MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Risa Hontiveros said she has received information that former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo has already left the Philippines.
In a Facebook post, the senator, who chairs the committee on women and children, said Guo exited the Philippines on July 18 headed to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Senator Hontiveros says top government officials could have aided Alice Guo’s escape from the Philippines.
Hontiveros attached Guo’s passport to show credibility of the report.
“I am now in receipt of information that in fact this person was already out of the country on July 18, 2024 to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Ipapakita ko po ang dokumentong ito, bilang patunay na pumasok sa Malaysia si Alice Guo,” she said.
“Siya po ay pumasok ng 12:17:13 military time ng July 18, kaya ibig sabihin umalis siya ng Pilipinas ng gabi ng July 17,” she said.
Image from Sen. Risa Hontiveros’ Facebook
Image from Sen. Risa Hontiveros’ Facebook
After her entry into Malaysia, Hontiveros said a source told her that Guo proceeded to Singapore where she met with her parents, Chinese nationals Lin Wen Yi at Guo JianZhong.
“The couple flew in from China on July 28, 2024. Mistulang reunion sila doon kasama si Wesley Guo at si Cassandra Ong,” she said.
Cassandra Ong is another controversial personality in the POGO scandal. She is identified as the authorized representative of Lucky South 99, the raided offshore gaming facility in Porac, Pampanga.
The senator thanked the National Bureau of Investigation for their help in tracking Guo.
After attending two Senate hearings, Guo snubbed further requests to appear before the upper house and had disappeared after.
The Senate soon issued a warrant for her arrest but law enforcement has failed to locate her. The NBI said sightings of the former mayor were seen somewhere in Bulacan but saw none of her traces when the tracking team went to the area.
Legal woes
Guo has been ordered dismissed as Mayor of Bamban by the Ombudsman following her alleged links to the raided POGO companies Zun Yuan Technology and Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc.
Last June, the Ombudsman ordered for her suspension following a complaint filed by the Department of Interior and Local Government over grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
The Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission also filed a qualified human trafficking case against the former mayor for her alleged connection to human trafficking of around 500 foreign individuals working for the raided POGO facility.
The Commission on Elections also found a basis to file a formal complaint of material misrepresentation against the former mayor.
Also because of her dishonesty in previous hearings, the mayor could possibly face a perjury case for lying under oath.
Adding up to her legal headaches is the tax evasion case filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue over the alleged failure to pay P500,000 in capital gains tax for the supposed sale of her property, Baofu Land Development Inc., the location of the POGO facilities raided in Bamban.
No word from the Bureau of Immigration has been released yet as of writing to confirm or deny Hontiveros’ statement.
