Where did Alice go ? Senators claim dismissed mayor has left PH but DOJ says otherwise

National

Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping, left the Philippines by traveling to Malaysia then to Singapore, Senator Risa Hontiveros revealed.

During a Senate session, Hontiveros presented documents showing that Guo met her parents, Lin Wen Yi and Guo Zian Zhong, in Singapore.

Hontiveros revealed that Guo left the country on July 17, arriving in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 18 at 12:17 p.m.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian supported these allegations, noting that Guo used her Chinese passport to exit the country.

Hontiveros suspects that some government officials may have aided Guo’s escape that she described as travesty.

"Who allowed this travesty to happen? Sino ang may kagagawan nito? Hindi makakaalis si Alice Guo kung walang tumulong sa kanya na mga opisyales ng pamahalaan. Para tayong ginisa sa sarili nating mantika," Hontiveros said.

Senator Raffy Tulfo suggested that Guo might have used a private plane, bypassing standard immigration

processes.

He explained that passengers on chartered planes do not have to go through the usual procedures and, if she had accomplices in Customs and Quarantine, it would have been easy for her to slip through without being captured on CCTV.

Senator Grace Poe urged aviation authorities to review their records to track Guo's departure, suggesting that a master list of international flights should help determine her movements.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice (DOJ) denied that Guo left the country.

Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Ty stated that, as far as the DOJ knew, Guo was still in the country.

He pointed out that Guo filed a motion in the DOJ on August 14, supported by a counter-affidavit notarized in the Philippines.

DOJ Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano stressed the importance of a thorough investigation if Guo has indeed left the country, emphasizing that the case is of national significance and those responsible must be held accountable.

Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco acknowledged receiving intelligence information that Guo illegally traveled to Malaysia and then to Singapore.

However, he noted that her departure was not recorded in the BI’s system, adding that the BI had not received any turnover or reports related to Guo from other agencies, including those manning maritime borders.

Guo’s lawyer, Atty. Stephen David, insisted that Guo remains in the Philippines, stating that he spoke to her and she assured him she has not left the country.

He also added that they have legal options if she decides to leave.

The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission is awaiting official information from Malaysian and Indonesian authorities regarding Guo’s whereabouts.(MyTVCebu)