ON THE WAY. Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo's sister Shiiela Guo (left) and Lucky South 99's authorized representative Cassandra Li Ong are shown in this undated photo in Indonesia. Senator Raffy Tulfo announced on Thursday (Aug. 22, 2024), through the Facebook page of his radio program, that the two individuals are on their way back to Manila after being apprehended by the Indonesian Immigration. (Photo courtesy of Raffy Tulfo in Action FB page)
MANILA – The Philippine government is coordinating with its Indonesian counterpart for the return of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo’s sister and the incorporator of a Pampanga-based Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO), President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Thursday.
In a media interview on the sidelines of an event at Malacañan Palace in Manila, Marcos said he is expecting Shiela Guo, the former mayor’s sister, and Cassandra Li Ong, the representative of Lucky South 99 POGO, to be sent back to the Philippines either on Thursday or Friday.
“I know, that they were intercepted in various places in Singapore and Indonesia. And, we are now, of course, in coordination with the Indonesian government and their agencies, arranging for them to be brought back siguro (perhaps) within a day or two,” Marcos said.
Shiela and Ong are now under the custody of Indonesian authorities, Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed earlier Thursday.
Marcos on Wednesday ordered an investigation into the departure of the dismissed mayor and vowed to expose and hold accountable the people who aided her escape.
On Tuesday, Malacañang ordered the DOJ and the Department of Foreign Affairs to cancel the Philippine passports of Alice, her siblings, and Ong.
Alice reportedly left for Malaysia on July 19, arrived in Singapore on July 21, and traveled to Indonesia on Aug. 18.
She is facing criminal charges for supposedly violating Republic Act (RA) 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 and RA 9208 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.
Other cases are being prepared against the dismissed mayor for her alleged involvement in POGO operations.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission has asked the prosecution panel handling the human trafficking cases against her to turn down her plea for an opportunity to give side despite failing to attend previous preliminary hearings on the charges.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has issued an order to take into custody and detain Ong after she and Sheila Guo were arrested in Indonesia and sent back to the country.
Ong had earlier been cited for contempt by the House quad committee for her failure to attend hearings in connection with the POGO controversy.
Alice, who had been linked to illegal POGO operations, reportedly met Ong in Singapore after fleeing the Philippines.
"Pursuant to the authority of the Speaker, under Rule IV, Section 15 (j) to sign all acts, resolutions, memorials, writs, warrants and subpoena, you are hereby ordered to take into custody and detain Katherine Cassandra Li Ong for contempt of the House of Representatives for a period of 30 days," according to the letter addressed to House Sergeant-at-Arms Napoleon Taas.
The arrest order was signed by House Secretary-General Reginald Velasco, House Committee on Dangerous Drugs chairperson Robert Ace Barbers, House Committee on Public Order and Safety chairperson Dan Fernandez, House Committee on Human Rights chairperson Bienvenido Abante Jr, and House Committee on Public Accounts chairperson Joseph Stephen Paduano. (with a report from Filance Mikee Cervantes/PNA)
