Lawmakers in the Philippines hope that Alice Guo’s arrest will pave the way for her appearance in ongoing probes by the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Guo was taken into custody late Tuesday night in Tangerang City, Jakarta, Indonesia, and is currently held by the Indonesian police.
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero expressed hope that her arrest would aid the investigations into Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs).
“Her arrest brings the opportunity to deliver justice and, hopefully, shed light on illegal POGO operations in the country.”.
Francis “Chiz” Escudero
Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros also congratulated Philippine and Indonesian authorities, expressing her gratitude to all involved in the capture.
“I expect Guo Hua Ping to appear before the Senate hearing as soon as possible. We appreciate the commitment of the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) to present her to the Senate after processing,” she said.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian echoed the need for Guo to face the charges against her in the Philippines, including human trafficking and money laundering.
“Now that she has been apprehended, she must answer for the cases filed against her, such as human trafficking, money laundering, quo warranto, violating Senate orders, among others,” Gatchalian told reporters.
The senator also stressed that Guo should reveal those involved in the illegal activities connected to POGOs, including government officials who may have enabled such activities, so that proper cases could be filed.
In the House of Representatives, Quezon 3rd District Representative Reynan Arrogancia shared that he and his colleagues on the Quad committee are looking forward to questioning Guo during a public hearing, which could strengthen the criminal cases against her.
The Quad-committee—comprising the House Committees on Dangerous Drugs, Public Accounts, Public Order and Safety, and Human Rights—has been investigating the links between POGOs, the illegal drug trade, and extrajudicial killings.
“The Quadcomm will continue until we expose all key players in these illegal POGOs, human trafficking, and drug operations,” said Arrogancia, vice chair of the Committee on Public Order and Safety.
He added, “It will then be up to the DOJ to prosecute until they are convicted and incarcerated.”
Alongside the charges filed locally, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced that Guo would also face deportation proceedings once she returns to the country.
“She has been the subject of a mission order for some time due to her fraudulent acquisition of Filipino citizenship documents and for being considered an undesirable alien. Her presence here has caused significant disruption,” BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said during a briefing on Wednesday.
However, Sandoval clarified that while Guo could face deportation, the legal cases against her must first be resolved before she can be deported. She added that Guo will undergo the same process as her sister Shiela Leal Guo and POGO incorporator Cassandra Li Ong, who have both faced legal scrutiny upon their return to the Philippines.
