September 4, 2024 | 6:02pm
MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla admitted on Wednesday, September 4, that he is no longer in communication with Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco following the latter’s failure to promptly disclose the timing of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo’s escape from the Philippines.
This has been revealed by Remulla in a press briefing on Wednesday, saying that Tansingco should have immediately informed him of the time Guo and her alleged accomplices escaped.
“Kasi nung nangyari ito, hindi naman niya ako sinabihan agad eh. Marahil alam niya na matagal ‘yan bago ko nalaman. Kaya hindi na kami nag-uusap,” he said.
(Because when this happened, he didn’t tell me right away. Maybe he knew it would take a while before I found out. That’s why we’re not talking anymore.)
“Hindi tama ‘yung ganung klaseng asal,” he added.
(That kind of behavior isn’t right.)
Last week, the Senate Subcommittee on Justice and Human Rights raised concerns about the delay by the Bureau of Immigration in relaying information to the Department of Justice regarding Guo’s escape.
During the sub-committee hearing, Tansingco admitted that the bureau received information from the Philippine National Police Intelligence group about Guo’s escape on August 15. However, the bureau did not confirm or relay this information until Sen. Risa Hontiveros revealed Guo’s escape on August 19.
Tansingco said that they informed the Justice department only on August 20, as that was when the escape was confirmed.
Immigration officials possibly helped Guo
Remulla also pointed to the possible involvement of some immigration officials in helping Guo escape the country.
“May suspicion tayo na some immigration people are involved,” Remulla said.
According to the Justice secretary, some immigration personnel may have allegedly assisted Guo in exiting the country, drawing a comparison to the 2020 “Pastillas Scheme.”
“Nagpupuslit papasok parang ‘pastillas gang’ at nagpupuslit sila palabas. Kaya alam natin meron talagang gumagawa niyan sa Immigration, ‘yun ang ating titingnan,” Remulla said.
(They smuggle people in like the ‘pastillas gang’ and they also smuggle them out. So we know that there are really people in Immigration doing that and that’s what we’re going to investigate.)
Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that the government is finalizing arrangements for Guo’s return to the Philippines.
Guo was arrested in Tangerang City, Jakarta, Indonesia.
The Department of Justice reported that she was apprehended at 11:58 p.m. on September 3, while the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission and the National Bureau of Investigation reported her arrest at 1:30 a.m. on September 4.
Upon her return, Guo will face multiple charges in different courts and Congress, including issues concerning her nationality and her links to the raided Philippine offshore gaming operator hub in Bamban.
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