Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian Speaks on Departure of Former Mayor Alice Guo
SHERWIN GATCHALIAN – The Senator expressed his dismay on the exit of former Mayor Alice Guo citing the country’s intelligence funds.
Multiple complaints were filed against dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo. She was also on the immigration lookout bulletin. However, the former Mayor was still able to leave the Philippines as confirmed by several authorities.
Senator Risa Hontiveros previously presented during a Senate session a document claiming that former Mayor Alice Guo has left the Philippines. According to the Senator, the former Mayor flew to Kuala Lumpur last July 17 and arrived the next day. She then moved to Singapore to meet her family.
According to the Bureau of Immigration, Guo was able to leave the Philippines without passing the immigration. The BI claimed that Guo is currently in Indonesia.
The sister of Alice Guo, Sheila Guo, and Cassandra Li Ong were sent back to the Philippines from Indonesia. They are now facing different charges filed against them. The Senate has also issued an arrest order against Sheila Guo more than a month ago.
However, former Mayor Alice Guo remains on the loose. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian who is one of the lawmakers who spearheads the investigation of the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming operations in the Philippines expressed his disappointment on the exit of the dismissed Mayor.
“We only knew about it one month after it happened, pero narinig ko sa ibang ahensya matagal na nilang alam,” the lawmaker said.
Based on a report on GMA News, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian also expressed his speculation of an attempt to cover up the exit of former Mayor Alice Guo thus, it was allegedly hidden from the Senate and the public. He stressed that it is a mystery how Guo was able to leave the country.
Sen. Gatchalian also asked about the spending of the intelligence funds amid former Mayor Alice Guo being able to depart the country while she is under monitoring. Based on the report, the Senator stressed that it is disappointing that it was yet to be determined how Guo was able to flee from the country.
“What happens to billions of intelligence funds? Bakit nakalusot ang isang Alice Guo sa kanilang pagmomonitor?” he expressed.
Sen, Gatchalian said that the situation does not boost confidence that the authorities are competent to arrest high-profile individuals with arrest orders. He stressed that there are several high-profile individuals with arrest orders who have yet to be located.