MANILA, Philippines – Unlike her sister, dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, Shiela Guo, did not hesitate to answer questions from senatorss, especially as to how she and her siblings were able to exit Philippine borders without being detected.
In today’s Senate hearing of the Committee on Justice subcommittee investigating the Guo family’s mysterious disappearance, Shiela said she, together with siblings Alice and Wesley Leal Guo, boarded a series of boat rides that led them to Malaysia.
“Sumakay po kami ng boat sa dagat, hindi ko alam yung lugar,” Shiela said.
Shiela said they were fetched by a van from their home in their farm in Bamban, but said she had no clue as to where they were headed.
“Dito lang po kasi galing kami sa bahay tapos may sundo sa amin na isang sasakyan. Hindi ko alam kung san ‘yung lugar. Siguro byahe kami ng ilang oras hindi ko masabi. Matagal din,” she said.
They traveled around 5-6 hours by van to a seaport where the three of them were transferred to a small white boat which resembled a speed boat.
Shiela said she is not familiar with their driver as well as the plate number of the van.
When Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada asked how many were in the van, Shiela answered that she was with her siblings.
“Kaming tatlo, si Alice saka si Wesley po,” she said.
After their small boat transport, they transferred to a bigger boat which resembled a fishing ship. She thought so because she said she saw fishing nets on board.
Their sea journey didn’t stop there yet. According to Shiela, they still transferred to another boat, a smaller one again in blue or green in color. .
From there, they were ferried to Malaysia.
Since the start of questioning of the senators, Shiela did not evade any question prompting her legal counsel Stephen David to request for an executive session because of the possibility of Shiela subjecting herself to self-incrimination.
“In this interest of fairness you honor because she is waving her right against self-incrimination. I was discussing this with her earlier. In fairness, may we please request for an executive session as to the manner on how she left the country,” David said.
“Apparently she might not know that she might be incriminating herself,” David said.
Sen. Bato Dela Rosa however said that concerns about national security are the only excuse meritable of an executive session in a Senate hearing. But since the investigation is in aid of legislation, every Filipino should be informed about how such moduses are happening.
