Manila — Shiela Guo disclosed to the Senate on Tuesday that she, along with her sister, dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, and their brother Wesley, escaped the Philippines by boat, sparking a comprehensive inquiry by the Committee on Justice into the circumstances of their departure.
According to Philippines News Agency, the siblings embarked on a secretive journey that involved multiple transfers between vessels, ultimately leading them to Sabah, Malaysia, without using public ports. This method allowed them to evade monitoring by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which later theorized that their journey likely started from a speedboat in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi. NBI Director Jaime Santiago indicated that the siblings’ travel involved a backdoor exit as their passports lacked exit stamps from the Philippines.
Further complicating the investigation, Coast Guard Vice Admiral Rolando Punzalan acknowledged the challenges of monitoring numerous potential backdoor maritime routes from Zamboanga to Tawi-Tawi, though he noted that the Coast Guard’s primary focus remains on passenger vessel safety and environmental protection. The agency is seeking to boost its capabilities in response to such incidents.
Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, presiding over the inquiry, highlighted discrepancies in the Guos’ travel documents and announced additional hearings to delve deeper into the inconsistencies, particularly concerning the siblings’ alleged simultaneous presence in Kuala Lumpur and Sabah. The Senate also seeks to identify and hold accountable those who facilitated the Guos’ escape.
The Philippine National Police Intelligence Group (PNP-IG) was commended for its role in alerting the Bureau of Immigration about the Guos’ departure. PNP Directorate for Operations Head Police Brig. Gen. Nicolas Salvador emphasized the value of international cooperation in tracking the siblings’ movements, underscoring a successful example of intelligence sharing that circumvented their planned return to the Philippines.