During a high-stakes Senate hearing scheduled for August 19, 2024, Senator Risa Hontiveros leveled grave charges against Alice Guo, the sacked mayor of Bamban, Tarlac. Hontiveros argued that although Guo had legal problems that ought to have stopped her from leaving the Philippines, she had managed to depart under dubious circumstances. Hontiveros claims that Guo left the Philippines on July 17, 2024, then arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the next day. The senator provided records apparently tracking Guo’s travels, including her later visits to Singapore, where she allegedly met her brother Wesley, allegedly flown in from China, her presumed Chinese mother, and her father.
Hontiveros voiced her indignation over Guo’s apparent escape and questioned how such an incident might have happened without government officials’ cooperation. “Who let this farce to unfold? Sino ang may kagagawan nito? Hindi makakaalis si Alice Guo kung walang tumulong sa kenyanda ng pamahalaan. During the Senate session, Hontiveros said, “Para tayong ginisa sa sarili nating mantika,” pointing to what she believes to be a serious compromise of the nation’s immigration and judicial systems.
DOJ Denies Guo’s Departure, Says She Still Lives in the Philippines
Reacting to Hontiveros’s claims, Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Ty vehemently denied Guo had left the Philippines, claiming no official record of her departure. “As far as we know, Mayor Guo is still in the country,” Ty stated, contesting the veracity of the senator’s assertions. He added that the Bureau of Immigration has not noted any attempt by Guo to leave any Philippine port, so throwing doubt on her ability to have departed the nation unnoticed.
Ty also added more details to back up his claim that Guo stays in the Philippines. He pointed out that Guo had submitted a motion in her continuing lawsuit to the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday past-due, to which she attached a counter-affidavit sworn before a Philippine notary public on August 14, 2024. Ty claims that this is solid proof Guo was still in the nation soon before the Senate hearing.
Ty further noted that several law enforcement departments in the Philippines had recorded Guo sightings following the date Hontiveros claimed she had left. These appearances, Ty said, call even more doubt on the veracity of the claims Guo made about escaping to Malaysia and Singapore.
Requests a comprehensive investigation
Given the contradicting findings, DOJ Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano underlined the importance of a thorough inquiry to establish the reality of the case. “This case of national significance,” Clavano said. ” Therefore, if Alice Guo has fled the nation is true, a comprehensive inquiry is required to hold those liable. This is not light weight. Clavano’s remarks highlight the seriousness of the matter since the possible failure to stop Guo from leaving the country may point to major weaknesses in the legal and security systems of the country.
Menardo Guevarra, the solicitor general, also spoke on the topic and reassured everyone that her possible absence would not cause the filed legal charges against Guo to be thrown off. “The cases that we filed against Alice Guo will not be affected by her absence,” Guevarra said, noting that even if she were no longer in the nation, the court could still acquire jurisdiction over her person by means of service of process by publication. This was aimed to convince the public and legal community that justice would still be sought independent of Guo’s location.
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Speculations of a Private Escape: Tulfo and Poe Ask Questions
Adding to the complexity of the matter, Senator Raffy Tulfo brought up the idea that Guo might have flown a private plane out of the nation, therefore avoiding normal immigration processes that would have noted her departure. “Pag ikaw ay isang pasahero, gusto pumunta ng overseas sakay ng isang chartered plane, hindi ka na dadaan sa proseso, hindi ka may dadaan sa immigration. Derecho ka na sa gate sakay ng iyong limousine, SUV and then pagdating sa tarmac akyat na sa eroplano mo and then here comes the CIQ, customs and quarantine. Tulfo said, “at kung yun ay kasabwat ni Alice Guo, madaling makakalusot dahil walang CCTV na madadaanan.” His remarks underlined the possible weaknesses in the aviation security of the nation, especially with regard to private travel.
Senator Grace Poe, who pushed aviation authorities to carefully review their records for any evidence of Guo’s alleged departure, mirrored Tulfo’s worries. Poe underlined the need of confirming whether Guo had left the nation using a private jet and, should such be the case, pointing up any flaws in procedure that might have let her flee. Another major issue of worry was the lack of CCTV cameras along some paths utilized by private planes since it would enable people to hide from observation.
The Continual Examination and Consequences
Apart from the seriousness of the accusations against Alice Guo, the case has attracted major public interest since the search for her underlines the wider consequences for the integrity of the national legal and immigration institutions. Should it show that Guo fled by government official help, it would be a grave transgression of confidence and a breakdown of the systems meant to support the rule of law.
For now, the contradicting narratives offered by Senator Hontiveros and the DOJ further heighten the mystery about the case. Though the truth of the subject is yet unknown, as it develops in the next weeks both the public and legal professionals will keep constant observation of this situation.
