The sister of runaway Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo and the incorporator of a Pampanga-based Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) should be returning to the Philippines after their arrest in Indonesia, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. confirmed.
According to the Philippine News Agency, on the sidelines of an event, the president said he is expecting Shiela Guo, the former mayor’s sister, and Cassandra Li Ong, the representative of the Lucky South 99 POGO, to be sent back to the Philippines either today or Friday.
Meanwhile, Senator Raffy Tulfo announced via Facebook that the two were sent back by Indonesian authorities and are expected to arrive at Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 5:05pm on a Philippine Airlines flight.
Alice Guo, who left the country in July, reportedly traveled to Jakarta from Singapore on a cruise ship with Ong. The Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines had previously reached out to Indonesian authorities for assistance in locating the pair.
Ong and Sheila Guo were apprehended on August 10th at Mega Mall Batam Center in Riau, Indonesia. Alice Guo was not with them at the time of their arrest. The Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms is coordinating with the Manila International Airport Authority to serve an arrest order for Sheila Guo upon her arrival.
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero mentioned that further coordination with Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros is needed regarding potential contempt actions against Ong. Notably, Ong is also subject to an outstanding warrant from the House of Representatives.
Hontiveros expressed optimism about the Senate inquiry into POGOs and its connection to Mayor Guo, describing the situation as a “promising development.” She anticipates both Ong and Sheila Guo’s participation in a Senate hearing scheduled for Tuesday, where they will be held accountable for their previous absence.
Hontiveros emphasized that Ong’s testimony would be critical in uncovering individuals who may have assisted Alice Guo in fleeing the country and identifying gaps in the immigration system.
The ongoing investigation into former Mayor Alice Guo’s departure has led to calls for enhanced accountability for those involved in her exit. The Philippine government has ordered the cancellation of the passports of Alice, her siblings, and Ong.
Alice Guo is facing serious criminal charges, including violations of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act. Further cases are being pursued related to her alleged involvement in POGO operations. The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has requested that her request for a hearing be denied due to her absence at prior sessions.
