MANILA (UCAN): The Philippines praised Indonesia for capturing Alice Guo, the former mayor of Bamban town in Tarlac province. Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping, fled the country after being dismissed from her position on August 13. She was accused of having ties to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators [POGOs].
Indonesian authorities arrested her on September 4 as she was moving to a hotel in Tangerang City, just outside Jakarta.
Guo, who is 35 years old, was dismissed due to allegations of not being a Philippine citizen and using a fake identity. She is also suspected of involvement in human trafficking and organised crime through her connections with POGOs.
The Philippine government is currently coordinating with Indonesian immigration officials for her immediate return. She is in the custody of police at Jatanras Mabes Polri.
“The close cooperation between our two governments has made this arrest possible,” Philippine president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., said on September 4 as he thanked the Indonesian government for its assistance and congratulated local law enforcement personnel
POGOs were banned by the government in July this year.
“I’m fully expecting that Guo will finally speak the complete truth. She has nowhere else to go,” said senator, Risa Hontiveros, who heads an inquiry into Guo’s alleged links with POGOs and her election to office despite not being a Filipino citizen.
Caritas, along with other rights groups had called for the former mayor’s arrest.
“This development underscores the principle that justice must prevail and that accountability knows no borders,” Jing Rey Henderson, head of communications of Caritas Philippine, said. He commended the authorities for their continued pursuit of truth.
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“Public servants who violate public trust must face the consequences,” Henderson added.
Danny Carranza, leader of a pro-poor farmers’ group Katarungan, said those who were involved in helping Guo should be identified.
“The justice system in this country is once again being challenged by people who think and act like they are above the law,” Carranza added.
Lawmaker, Bienvenido Abante, Jr., said that Guo’s arrest “is an embarrassment” to the country.
Akbayan president, Rafaela David, said in a statement that Guo “is merely a symptom of the broader problem posed by the illegal POGOs operating in the country.”
David said, “The next crucial step is to hold those responsible for their [POGOs] spread fully accountable.”
