MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero Wednesday called for the need for a general aviation terminal to beef up security for private planes at airports following the controversial alleged escape of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.

“Madaling lusutan dahil wala tayong general aviation terminal, so napakadaling lusutan kung saka-sakali. Basta may pera ka madali kang makakalabas ng bansa, makakabalik din. Ika nga, lamang lagi ang mayaman sa ganyang klaseng sitwasyon,” Escudero said in an ambush interview Wednesday.

Escudero said he had already grilled the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) in previous hearings for the absence of such a facility in local airports.

“Nakatatlong budget deliberations na, lima pa nga noong ako’y naging Senador, siningil ko ang CAAP, siningil ko ang DOTr, kaugnay sa kawalan natin ng general aviation terminal, mula noong inimbento ang airport dito sa Pilipinas,” he said.

Escudero said the absence of such a facility is a crucial factor as to how and why private planes evade inspection from the Bureau of Customs and Bureau of Immigration (BI).

“Dahil sa ngayon, sinumang may private plane, yung mga mayayaman ika nga, ay pupunta lamang sa hangar nila ipapadala ‘yung passport nila, papatatakan, sasakay sila sa lounge nila, at sasakay sa eroplano para umalis,” Escudero said.

“Pag landing babalik ng Pilipinas, ganoon ulit. Bababa sa kanyang hangar, at papasok na sa kanyang kotse, wala nang nagi-inspeksyong customs, wala nang nagi-inspeksyon na immigration,” he said.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, the Bureau of Immigration and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission had all announced receiving reports that Guo, despite pending cases, a standing Senate warrant and an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order, managed to escape the country on July 18 to Malaysia, sneaked to Singapore and is now reportedly in Indonesia.

BI Spokesperson Dana Sandoval, in an interview, confirmed that Guo is now in Indonesia. National Bureau of Investigation Director Jaime Santiago said they are still confirming the report to their international counterparts.

Guo’s camp however maintains that the ex-mayor is still in the country and proof to that is the statement of lawyer Elmer Galicia, the notary public who swore to have seen Guo personally when the latter sought notarial services last August 14.