By Komfie Manalo
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday warned that those who helped dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo escape the country would be prosecuted and suffer the consequences of their illegal actions.
Marcos made the warning after the fugitive mayor, a fugitive former mayor who is accused of having links to Chinese criminal syndicates, was arrested by Indonesian authorities, presumably with the assistance of Philippine law enforcers, at around 1am on September 4 in Tangerang City, Jakarta, Indonesia.
"All of those who are implicated in assisting Alice Guo to leave the Philippines illegally as a fugitive from justice will certainly pay the price," Marcos said.
"You want to know whose head will roll? We won't just fire them, we will file charges against them. What they did violates the law and is against all of the interests of the Philippine judicial system," the President added.
Marcos announced on social media the arrest of Guo and added the latest development should serve as a warning to those attempting to evade justice, emphasizing that the long arm of the law will reach them.
"On or about 1:00 am, September 4, 2024, Alice Guo (also known as Guo Hua Ping) was arrested in Tangerang City, Jakarta, Indonesia. I congratulate all law enforcement personnel who made this apprehension possible," Marcos said.
"The public may not know the intricate details of this mission that you have accomplished. But on their behalf, accept my thanks. The Philippines also thanks the Indonesian Government for their assistance on this matter. The close cooperation between our two governments has made this arrest possible," he said.
Marcos stated that Guo's arrest should serve as a warning that attempting to evade justice is futile.
The President added that the government will continue to uphold its duty to apply the rule of law, assuring that Guo will be entitled to all legal protections under Philippine law and by the country's commitment to justice.
"But we will not allow this to prolong the resolution of the case, whose outcome will be a victory for the Filipino people," he said.
Guo is involved in several illegal activities related to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) operations in Bamban. She is wanted by the Philippine Senate for refusing to attend a congressional probe on her alleged criminal ties. The former mayor has denied the accusations, insisting she is a natural-born Philippine citizen facing "malicious accusations."
Guo and her siblings were reported to have left the country in July despite a standing Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) issued against them.
Guo was removed from office as mayor of Bamban town in Tarlac province. The Philippine anti-crime agency has said she and her siblings were reported to have fled the country in July, traveling to Malaysia and Singapore, then Indonesia in August using her Philippine passport despite a standing Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) issued against them.
A Senate probe into her affairs began in May after authorities raided a casino in Bamban town in March, uncovering what law enforcement officials said were scams being perpetrated from a facility built on land partially owned by the mayor.
Authorities found about 1,000 workers, including victims of human trafficking, along with luxury villas, high-end cars, and expensive cognac.
Guo's whereabouts had been unknown for some time. She was the subject of a Senate arrest warrant due to her non-attendance at a hearing. Her lawyer said she had been traumatized by the hearings, including the reaction on social media, where her responses have been widely mocked.
Guo's sister, Sheila, and Lucky South 99 incorporator, Cassandra Li Ong, were apprehended by Indonesian immigration officials at a shopping mall in Riau, Indonesia, on August 20.
Comments