Alice Guo expected at the Senate following arrest

September 4, 2024 | 10:33am

MANILA, Philippines — Dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo is expected to appear before the Senate following her arrest in Indonesia, Deputy Minority Leader Sen. Risa Hontiveros said on Wednesday, September 4.

The Senate has long awaited Guo’s reappearance after issuing a warrant for her arrest on July 13, due to her failure to attend hearings concerning Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) activities in her town. 

Hontiveros exposed the former mayor’s escape on August 19, saying that Guo fled the country on July 17. 

Philippine authorities scrambled to confirm Guo’s escape after this revelation, and independently verified that Guo and her cohorts escaped the country. 

“I expect Guo Hua Ping’s appearance before the Senate as soon as possible. We appreciate the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)’s commitment to turn her over to the Senate once she is processed,” Hontiveros said.

She also confirmed through her sources that Guo has been apprehended and thanked Indonesian authorities for their assistance.

“Kung sino man ang tumulong sa kanyang pagtakas, ‘di namin kayo tatantanan,” Hontiveros said.

(Whoever helped her escape, we will not let up on you.)

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, who worked alongside Hontiveros on the POGO investigation in Bamban, echoed her sentiments.

“Dapat din dalhin siya sa Senado dahil ang Senado lamang ang may outstanding arrest order laban sa kanya,” he said.

(She should also be brought to the Senate because only the Senate has an outstanding arrest order against her.)

Gatchalian also confirmed with the National Bureau of Investigation that Guo is now in the custody of Indonesian authorities.

In a separate statement, Senate President Francis Escudero commended both Philippine and Indonesian authorities for ensuring Guo’s arrest.

“She can now face justice and hopefully shed light on illegal POGO operations in the country,” Escudero said.

Guo broke into the national spotlight when the Senate probed POGOs in her hometown. Since then, anomalies beyond POGOs emerged, such as Guo’s nationality. 

During the hearings, Guo was confirmed by Hontiveros to be Guo Hua Ping, a Chinese national. Several other family members, including Guo’s alleged sister Shiela Guo, were also identified as Chinese nationals, with Shiela confirmed to be Zhang Mier.

The revelation of a foreign national infiltrating the government casted doubt on the integrity of several government agencies, including the Bureau of Immigration and the Philippine Statistics Authority.