Trade request could delay Guo’s return

(UPDATE) The return to the Philippines of dismissed Bamban and Tarlac mayor Alice Guo could be delayed by a request from the Indonesian government for a prisoner swap, Justice Minister Crispin Remulla said, after confirmed reports that Guo has been arrested in Jakarta.

According to Remulla, Indonesian authorities wanted to exchange Guo for a known drug suspect, Gregor Johan Haas, who was arrested on May 15 in Bogo, Cebu, after the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) issued a warning based on a criminal complaint filed against him by Indonesian authorities.

According to Remulla, the prisoner swap could complicate the process of returning Guo to the Philippines.

ARRESTED Former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo shortly after her arrest in Indonesia on September 3, 2024. PHOTO COURTESY OF PNP

Haas is described as a “high profile fugitive” for suspected membership in the Sinaloa Cartel, an international organized criminal network based in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, that is involved in drug trafficking and money laundering activities.

Indonesian authorities have accused him of smuggling a shipment of floor ceramics into Indonesia in December, filled with more than 5 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride, also known as shabu.

Earlier on Wednesday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed to hold accountable those who helped Guo flee the country.

Speaking to reporters in Quezon City, the president said the government would file charges against those who helped Guo escape. Guo is accused of human trafficking and ties to Chinese organized crime.

“Anyone involved in helping Alice Guo leave the Philippines illegally as a fugitive will undoubtedly pay the price,” Marcos said.

“So you ask, whose head will roll? We will not just fire them; we will file charges against them. What they did is against the law and against all the interests of the Philippine justice system,” he added.

The president, however, would not say who might be involved. He said: “You will know soon enough.”

Marcos issued the statement after the arrest of Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping, around 1 a.m. in Tangerang city in Jakarta, Indonesia, on September 4.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said Guo is currently in the custody of Indonesian police in Jatanras Mabes Polri.

The ousted mayor has been on the run since being linked to a Chinese online gambling centre where hundreds of people were forced to commit fraud or risk torture.

Authorities accused Guo of involvement in the illegal operation and of being a Chinese citizen posing as a Filipino to run for public office.

The Philippines has requested Guo’s extradition and the Manila Bureau of Immigration and the National Bureau of Investigation are working with Indonesian authorities to secure her return “as soon as possible,” said Jaime Santiago, director of the National Bureau of Investigation.

Guo is also wanted by the Senate for refusing to attend hearings into her alleged ties to agricultural fraudsters in Bamban.

She is accused of corruption, money laundering and human trafficking in connection with the raid on a fraud farm in Bamban.

Remulla praised Guo’s arrest as “a testament to the tireless efforts of our law enforcement agencies and the power of international cooperation to bring fugitives to justice.”

The president assured the public in a video message that Guo’s case would be resolved quickly.

“Let this serve as a warning to those who try to evade justice: this is an exercise in futility. The arm of the law is long and will reach you. This government will continue to uphold its duty to apply the rule of law,” Marcos said.

“Miss Guo is entitled to all legal protections due to her under the laws of the land and in accordance with our commitment to the rule of law. But we will not allow this to prolong the resolution of the case, the outcome of which will be a victory for the Filipino people,” he added.

The president praised Philippine and Indonesian authorities who worked tirelessly to arrest Guo.

“I congratulate all law enforcement personnel who made this arrest possible. The public may not know the intricate details of this mission that you successfully accomplished, but on their behalf, please accept my thanks,” Marcos said.

“The Philippines also thanks the Indonesian government for its assistance in this matter. The close cooperation between our two governments made this arrest possible,” he added.

The president said the government is finalizing arrangements for Guo’s return to the country.

Marcos had earlier said an investigation was underway into the departure of the ousted mayor of Bamban and that “heads will roll.” He noted that Guo’s escape “exposed corruption that undermines our justice system and undermines public trust.”

Guo faces charges over her alleged involvement with illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) and questions about her nationality.

Despite being the subject of an immigration warning bulletin due to the ongoing investigation, Guo was able to leave the country on July 18.

Guo is said to have left for Malaysia, arrived in Singapore on July 21 and traveled to Indonesia on August 18.

Her sister Shiela and business partner Cassandra Li Ong were previously arrested in Indonesia and have since been deported back to the Philippines.

During the Senate Judiciary and Human Rights Subcommittee hearing, Shiela admitted that she had left the country by boat with the dismissed mayor.

Shiela Guo was one of the people arrested by the Senate in July last year.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) stressed the importance of intelligence in determining Guo’s exact location in Indonesia, saying the arrest was the result of their active coordination and cooperation with the Indonesian National Police.

Col. Jean Fajardo, PNP spokesperson, said this collaboration underscores the importance of intelligence sharing and joint efforts in the fight against transnational crime.

In a video shared by Indonesian media on the social media platform X, Guo was seen being led down a white staircase by police officers.

The Department of Justice, the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) have filed separate cases against Guo, including multiple money laundering charges.

According to the AMLC, Guo and her accomplices laundered more than 100 million pesos in proceeds from criminal activities.

Senators praised Indonesian authorities for their help in arresting Guo, who will be handed over to the Senate once she returns to the Philippines.

“Terima Kasih (thank you) to our friends in Indonesia,” said Senator Risa Hontiveros, who praised all the individuals who did their best to arrest Guo.

The senator also said the NBI has assured them that it will immediately hand over Guo to the Senate once she is back in the country and processed.

“And we will go after those who helped her escape,” Hontiveros said in a statement in Filipino.

Senate President Francis Escudero praised Guo’s arrest. “She can now be brought to justice and… also shed light on illegal POGO operations in the country.”

He and Senator Joel Villanueva thanked Indonesian authorities for the successful arrest.

Senator Loren Legarda said: “We must not allow ourselves to be victims of foreigners who intend to harm our countrymen and society.”

Members of parliament in the House of Representatives also welcomed Guo’s arrest.

“We at quadcom look forward to confronting her during our public hearing,” said Rep. Reynan Arrogancia of the 3rd District of Quezon Province.

Arrogancia is a member of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety, which is part of the committee investigating POGOs.

On August 12, the Office of the Ombudsman ordered Guo’s removal as mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, after she was found guilty of serious misconduct.

France Castro, deputy leader of the House of Representatives minority group and leader of the Australian Capital Territory Teachers’ Party, also welcomed Guo’s arrest.

“This arrest is an important development to ensure that justice prevails. Alice Guo must now face the charges against her. It is essential that she face these allegations to clear her name or be held accountable,” Castro said.

House officials said they would cooperate with the Senate, as Guo also had an invitation to the House investigation into POGOs.

WITH BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO, REINA C. TOLENTINO, WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL, FRANCISCO TUYAY AND JAVIER JOE ISMAEL