CANCELLED. Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo during the House of Representatives quad committee hearing on illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators at the Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City on Sept. 19, 2024. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday (Oct. 4) said it has canceled Guo’s Philippine passport, saying it was "fraudulently acquired" after confirming that her biometrics matched that of a certain Chinese national “Guo Hua Ping”. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)
MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has canceled the Philippine passport of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Alice Guo, saying it was "fraudulently acquired" after confirming that her biometrics matched that of a certain Chinese national “Guo Hua Ping”.
Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said the cancellation took effect on Sept. 30, 2024.
“Upon receipt on 18 September 2024 from the Department of Justice (DOJ) of the certification issued by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) dated 24 August 2024 that the biometrics of Alice Leal Guo in the Passport Database match the biometrics of Guo Hua Ping in NBI files, the DFA canceled the Philippine passport issued under the identity of Alice Leal Guo,” she said in a statement on Friday.
The cancelation, she said, is by virtue of Section 10 (b) (4) of the New Philippine Passport Law, which allows the agency to cancel a passport if it was “acquired fraudulently, tampered with, or issued erroneously”.
Daza stressed that the DFA enforces a "zero tolerance policy for unscrupulous individuals” circumventing the Philippine passport application and issuance procedures.
“The DFA is committed to upholding the security and integrity of issuing Philippine passports and assures the public that fraudulent application and acquisition of passports are referred to law enforcement agencies for investigation and prosecution,” she said.
The Office of the President previously instructed Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo to take “appropriate action” for the cancellation of Guo’s passport after she fled the country for Indonesia.
She was deported on Sept. 6 and had been appearing in congressional hearings over her alleged involvement in illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) activities in Bamban, Tarlac.
On Friday, five days before the filing period for the 2025 polls ends, her lawyer revealed that Guo will seek reelection as Bamban mayor and would be filing her candidacy papers possibly next week.
Canceling passports to help gov’t cases
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the government acted within its authority in canceling Guo’s passport.
"That's the power of the State when it comes to sovereign documents that we all possess. As (the) State has the right to give us, it can take it away," he said in an interview.
Under the law, a passport, at all times, remains the property of the government.
Remulla added that the development may help the government pursue the cases against Guo.
"Siyempre (Of course), she has no travel documents, unless she has a Chinese passport," he said.
Remulla likewise said that his department remains unperturbed by the announcement by Guo's lawyers that she would file a certificate of candidacy to run in the upcoming elections.
"I wouldn't say it's her right. She can try but I wouldn't say it's her right. She's not Filipino," he said, adding that the government may opt to formally oppose her candidacy.
"We'll cross the bridge when we get there," he said. (With Benjamin Pulta/PNA)
