MANILA—Two companions of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, who left the Philippines in July, are on their way back to the country after being arrested in Indonesia. Senator Raffy Tulfo announced in a Facebook post on Thursday that Lucky South 99’s authorized representative, Cassandra Li Ong, and Alice Guo’s sister, Sheila Guo, were sent back by Indonesian authorities and are expected to arrive at Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 5:05 p.m. via Philippine Airlines flight PR 540.
According to Philippines News Agency, Alice Guo and Ong traveled from Singapore to Jakarta on board a cruise ship. The Philippines’ Bureau of Immigration had earlier requested assistance from Indonesian immigration authorities to locate them. Ong and Sheila Guo were apprehended at Mega Mall Batam Center in Riau, Indonesia, on August 10, but Alice Guo was not with them at the time.
The Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms is coordinating with the Manila International Airport Authority to serve the order of arrest for Sheila Guo upon her arrival. Meanwhile, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero stated that coordination is ongoing with Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros regarding a possible contempt citation for Ong and the disposition of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian’s pending motion to cite her in contempt.
The House of Representatives has an outstanding warrant for Ong, and Senator Hontiveros expressed her anticipation for further progress in the ongoing Senate inquiry into Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) and Mayor Guo’s involvement. “I look forward to the attendance of Cassandra Li Ong and Sheila Guo at our hearing on Tuesday. They will be held responsible for avoiding the Senate,” Hontiveros said.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed that Ong and Sheila Guo would be held at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Quezon City upon their arrival. “The NBI will likely take custody, but immigration authorities will decide on the charges to be filed. The NBI will handle questioning and processing,” Remulla said, emphasizing the need to respect the legal process and avoid turning the situation into a spectacle.