Alice Guo’s brother wants to surrender — lawyer

September 5, 2024 | 1:36pm

MANILA, Philippines — Wesley Guo, the purported brother of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, plans to surrender, the former-mayor’s legal counsel Stephen David said on Thursday, September 5.

David told the members of the press that he last spoke with Wesley yesterday, September 4.

“He also wants to surrender,” David said in Filipino, in an interview with the media, when asked about his discussion with Wesley.

The lawyer explained that Wesley could have been “discouraged” after his purported sisters were arrested by Indonesian authorities. Alice was arrested in Tangerang City, Jakarta on September 3, while Sheila Guo was also apprehended in Indonesia last August 22.

Wesley’s alleged girlfriend Cassandra Li Ong was also nabbed together with Shiela.

RELATED: Alice Guo arrested in Indonesia — DOJ, PAOCC

“Siyempre dumadating ‘yung point sa isang tao na madidiscourage ka ‘di ba kasi yung mga kasama mo, nandiyan na lahat. So, [as the] human being that we are, dumarating ‘yung point ng kahinaan natin,” David said. 

(Of course, the time will come when a person could be discouraged after seeing that all the people you’re with are already there. So, as the human being that we are, we may be vulnerable to our weaknesses.) 

David also said in a mix of English and Filipino that his client “doesn’t see the essence of hiding.” 

Wesley’s current whereabouts remain unknown. David said that he has no idea where Wesley is at the moment and preferred not to comment on claims that his client is in Hong Kong. 

Asked if Wesley’s legal team already arranged the procedure to coordinate his surrender, David declined to provide details but confirmed that they “are working on it.”

According to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), Wesley attempted to enter Hong Kong on August 26. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed this in a press briefing on Wednesday, adding that they are in the process of canceling Wesley’s passport. 

The Bureau of Immigration has also sought Hong Kong authorities’ assistance in locating Wesley, Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty said.  

Meanwhile, Alice is scheduled to return to the Philippines at 6:18 p.m. on Thursday on a chartered flight from Indonesia.