Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, who has been linked to a raided Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub in her town, fled the country on July 18 for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, according to Sen. Risa Hontiveros. Guo, who faces a standing arrest warrant from the Senate for repeatedly evading hearings on illegal Pogo activities, left the Philippines undetected, raising concerns about the integrity of the country’s immigration system.
Hontiveros disclosed Guo’s departure during a Senate plenary session on Monday, presenting an image of Guo’s Philippine passport and travel details. “It cannot be denied that this is her because it matches her Philippine passport,” Hontiveros asserted.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed the illegal departure, stating that Guo might have evaded the usual immigration checks. “We received intelligence information that Guo illegally left for Malaysia, then flew to Singapore,” said Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco.
Guo reportedly traveled with two others, Shiela Leal Guo and Wesley Leal Guo, and continued her journey to Singapore on July 21 and Indonesia on August 18. Despite being listed in the Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (Ilbo) issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ), her departure was not recorded in the BI’s system.
Guo’s escape, also known as Guo Hua Ping, has sparked a probe into potential lapses by government officials. Hontiveros criticized law enforcement for allowing her to slip away, questioning who is accountable for this “travesty.”
The DOJ, however, maintained that Guo was still in the country, citing her recent legal filings in the Philippines. However, the absence of CCTV footage and the possibility of using a private plane have increased the case’s complexity.
Senators have called for a thorough investigation into how Guo left the country undetected. Some have pointed out the misuse of private and chartered flights by high-profile individuals to bypass standard procedures.
As the controversy unfolds, authorities are increasingly pressured to trace Guo’s movements and hold those responsible for her escape accountable.
