MANILA, Philippines — Heads will roll over the reported escape of dismissed mayor Alice Guo of Bamban, Tarlac, President Marcos warned yesterday as he vowed to expose all those who helped her slip away.
Marcos said a full-scale investigation is underway and those responsible would be suspended and held accountable “to the fullest extent of the law.”
“LET ME BE CLEAR: Heads will roll,” the President said in a post on X early Wednesday. “We will expose the culprits who have betrayed the people’s trust and aided in her flight.”
The departure of Guo uncovers the corruption that undermines the country’s justice system and erodes public trust, the Chief Executive said.
“There is no room in this government for anyone who places personal interest above serving the Filipino people with honor, integrity and justice,” he stressed.
In a message to reporters, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the President wants the probe to be completed “as soon as feasible.”
On Tuesday, Malacañang asked the foreign affairs and justice departments to cancel the Philippine passports of Guo and those of her siblings Sheila and Wesley.
In a memorandum dated Aug. 20 addressed to Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Bersamin directed the two agencies to take appropriate action to cancel the passports of Guo and her siblings Wesley Leal Guo and Sheila Leal Guo.
The memo also covers Katherine Cassandra Li Ong, the authorized representative of the Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) raided in Porac, Pampanga.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros bared on Monday that Guo, also identified as Chinese national Guo Hua Ping, had already left the country using her Philippine passport.
Guo reportedly flew to Malaysia, met her family in Singapore and then traveled to Indonesia, according to Bersamin, who also chairs the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission.
Small world
Guo’s escape has been reported to the International Police, a move that would make her world and that of her family smaller, Hontiveros said yesterday.
The senator said she received information that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has reported Guo’s escape to the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime-Interpol for appropriate action.
“So, it has been raised to the level of Interpol,” Hontiveros said during the Kapihan sa Senado forum on Wednesday.
“The DFA, through the Office of Consular Affairs, took a precautionary measure to include mayor Alice Guo and her family in the passports watchlist database. This is to prevent the issuance of new passports to mayor Alice Guo or Guo Hua Ping and her family members.”
“At least the implication of that (report to Interpol) is it will not only be difficult (to go different places) but it will totally prevent (them) from using their Philippine passports,” she added.
Meanwhile, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said the Senate would pursue the filing of a criminal case against Guo for perjury and her continued defiance of a Senate subpoena.
While Guo has evaded authorities, Gatchalian vowed to ensure that individuals who aided her escape are held responsible. He emphasized Guo’s escape should not deter government from prosecuting her.
“This is a temporary setback. The cases should continue. She is now facing numerous charges. Her world will shrink, and the long arm of the law will eventually catch up to her,” he said.
Change of heart
Guo was supposed to return to the country last week but she apparently had a change of heart, according to PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director Maj. Gen. Leo Francisco.
Francisco said they received information Guo was supposed to return to the Philippines from Singapore last Aug. 14. He said agents were deployed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to intercept Guo.
However, the former local chief executive did not arrive. It is unclear why Guo, who was supposedly with five other people, did not continue with her travel.
Meanwhile, National Bureau of Investigation director Jaime Santiago said they have started a probe to unmask the people who assisted Guo.
He vowed to hold accountable the individuals, particularly if they are from the government, who helped Guo evade an arrest order from the Senate. – Cecille Suerte Felipe, Emmanuel Tupas