DOJ Chief Speaks on Shiela Guo’s Statements Following Senate Hearing
DOJ CHIEF – Department of Justice Secretary Boying Remulla said that Shiela Guo cannot be a state witness as she is “unrealiable”.
The authorities failed to locate Alice Guo even after a month since the Senate issued an arrest order. She was cited for contempt after she skipped two (2) hearings set for the discussion of her alleged involvement in the Philippine Offshore Gaming operations in Tarlac.
The authorities visited all the registered addresses of Guo but found negative presence. More than a week ago, Senator Risa Hontiveros revealed that the dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor has left the Philippines.
Former Mayor Alice Guo reportedly left the Philippines to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and the moved to Singapore. The former Mayor allegedly met with her family and went to Indonesia. Alice Guo’s companions were detained in Indonesia and sent back to the Philippines.
Cassandra Li Ong who is also accused of involvement in the illegal POGO operations in Porac, Pampanga is under the custody of the House of Representatives. Shiela Guo was brought to the Senate a hearing was recently held.
Shiela Guo revealed that Alice is not her sister and she came to the Philippines to work in an embroidery business as per the order of her “foster father”. According to her, she was born in China and her mother is still there.
Shiela said she does not know where in Indonesia Alice is. She also denied knowing information about the illegal POGO operations in Tarlac.
Previously, DOJ Undersecretary Nicky Ty said that Shiela Guo can be a state witness. The DOJ official stressed that she is qualified to be a state witness but there is a process for it and, in most cases, there is a pending case filed before one is held as a state witness.
Contrary to the view of Ty, DOJ Chief Jesus Boying Remulla believes that Shiela Guo cannot be a state witness. Based on a report on GMA News, the Justice Secretary stressed that Guo is not reliable.
“Hindi reliable eh. ‘Yung reliability nung kanyang mga sinasabi ang problema natin eh,” the DOJ Chief said.
Based on the report, Remulla further expressed that it has to be proven that her testimony is really needed if she will be a state witness. The authorities found out that Shiela Guo is Chinese national Zhang Mier based on her Chinese passport.
Charges were recommended to be filed against Guo and Ong. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is hopeful that Alice Guo will also be brought back to the Philippines after he has alerted the ASEAN ambassadors about her case.