MANILA, Philippines – Despite efforts of the Senate, suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo still remains at large but Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian assured that the embattled town chief is still in the Philippines. He has also ordered a lookout expansion throughout the country to find the former as well as her family members and co-accused.
Gatchalian said authorities visited all of the mayor’s registered addresses in Valenzuela, Tarlac, Marilao and Quezon City and left an arrest order but failed to find her and her siblings Sheila, Seimen, and Wesley Leal Guo. Only her former accountant, Nancy Gamo was arrested over the weekend and is now detained in the Senate pending the resumption of the e hearing into the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hub in Bamban.
Meanwhile, Dennis Cunanan, authorized representative of Lucky South 99 POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga who was also cited in contempt said he was not aware of the hearing last Wednesday, July 10.
“Obviously nagtatago itong mga taong ito at hindi sila nagpapahanap,” Gatchalian said on Teleradyo Serbisyo interview Monday.
The senator said the mayor could not use as an alibi that she and the authorities just did not meet at her residences because the notice for her arrest has been spread all over the country since the last hearing.
“Well buong bansa alam na merong arrest order eh last Friday pa binabalita na ito nu’ng Sabado ini-release ‘yung arrest order at pinag-usapan din ‘to nung pagdinig nung Wednesday kaya pagdating sa impormasyon alam ng buong bayan na mayroong arrest order,” he said.
Official arrest documents were distributed last weekend to her registered addresses but Guo and her siblings were not in sight. All the authorities saw were house help staff, said Gatchalian.
“Ako nakikita ko nagtatago talaga siya. Nag-e-vade siya ng arrest,” he said.
Gatchalian is also firm that the mayor is still in the country.
“Sa impormasyon namin andito pa siya. Hindi na siya makakaalis gamit ‘yung ating mga paliparan, yung ating mga airports dahil meron nang hold departure order,” he said.
Once the senate rules in contempt, a hold departure order would be in effect and she can no longer use the airports to escape because she will be flagged by the immigration.
Following her excuse that she is having medical and mental struggles, Gatchalian said she should have informed authorities as supported by corroborating documents.
For the senator, the mayor’s disappearance simply means guilt.
“Kung ikaw ay walang tinatago sa batas mag su-surrender ka. Pero dahil nga hindi siya nag su-surrender voluntarily para sa akin ang ibig sabihin nito ay guilty siya,” he said.
He has also sought help from law enforcement agencies to further expand location efforts for the mayor and her co-accused.
