Guo transferred to Pasig City jail, but court orders her return to PNP custody

Sacked Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, was transferred from the Philippine National Police (PNP) jail to the Pasig City jail yesterday, authorities confirmed.

But a few hours later, Guo was granted leave by the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) to remain in the PNP detention facility at Camp Crame in Quezon City pending the decision of her motion to reconsider the custody order. Guo is being held on an arrest warrant issued by the House of Representatives based on a summons for contempt of court.

Guo was transferred by the PNP to the Pasig City Jail, under the supervision of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

The BJMP reported Monday afternoon that Guo remains in custody at the Pasig City Jail Women’s House.

BJMP spokesperson Supt. Jayrex Bustinera confirmed that Guo will currently be lodged at the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory in response to questions about the Pasig City RTC order allowing the former mayor to remain in the PNP jail pending her motion to reconsider her decision.

“Hindi na updated. Stay (Guo) na daw sa amin (BJMP) (It is not updated. She will stay with us),” Bustinera said in an interview.

Pasig City RTC Judge Annielyn B. Medes-Cabelis issued an order suspending Guo’s transfer to the city jail pending the decision on the dismissed mayor’s request for reconsideration.

“While this Court has already issued an order for the transfer of custody of the accused, dated September 19, 2024, ordering the transfer of custody of the accused to the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory, the Chief of the NCR CIDG Custodial Facility, Camp Crame, Quezon City is hereby ordered to suspend the transfer of custody of the accused pending resolution,” Judge Cabelis said in her order.

The judge also ordered the PNP to bring Guo to the hearing on the request filed on September 27, the date set by the court for her summons and preliminary trial.

The judge explained that the hearing is intended to “assist the court in determining the veracity of the defendant-petitioner’s allegations that there are threats to her personal safety and security” and to determine whether “the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory has adequate security measures in place to ensure the safety and security of the defendant-petitioner and all persons currently deprived of their liberty and in custody….”

Guo and her co-defendants are being charged by the RTC with aggravated trafficking in persons, in violation of Republic Act (RA) 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, in connection with the criminal activities of Zun Yuan Technology Center, a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Bamban, which was raided by authorities.

Guo’s convoy arrived at Pasig Prison from the PNP Detention Center at around 9:14 a.m.

The PNP postponed her transfer on September 20 pending the necessary requirements for her medical evaluation.

The facility, which is managed by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), houses 44 other inmates.

However, BJMP spokesman Jail Supt. Jayrex Bustinera said Guo will be kept in a separate detention cell after her X-ray results during her medical assessment showed she may have a lung infection.

Guo will share the cell with three other inmates recovering from tuberculosis (TB).

Sputum test

A ‘Gene-Xpert laboratory test’ will be conducted at the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory to confirm the impression of tuberculosis (TB) in Guo’s X-ray, Bustinera said.

The “Gene Xpert” is a new test for tuberculosis that determines whether a person is infected with TB, and also whether the person’s TB bacteria are resistant.

Bustinera said BJMP chief director Ruel Rivera ordered the confirmation test to immediately find out whether Guo should be placed in the TB isolation cells or the general population cells.

The Philippine National Police (PNP), which had earlier detained Guo, released X-ray results showing that the dismissed mayor has a lung infection.

Guo’s co-defendants surrender

Guo’s seven co-defendants in the non-bailable aggravated human trafficking case filed before the Pasig City RTC have surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago presented them to the media during a press conference on Monday, September 23.

They are Jamielyn Santos Cruz, president of Zun Yuan Technology, Inc., Juan Miguel Alpas, Roderick Paul Bernardo Puajante, Thelma Barrogo Requiro, president and CEO of Hongshen Gaming, Inc., Rita Sapnu Uyturralde, Rowena Evangelista and Rachelle Joan Malonzo Carreon .

The co-defendants who remain at large are Huang Zhiyang, Zhang Ruijin, Baoying Lin, Yu Zheng Can, Dennis Lacson Cunanan, Merlie Joy Manalo Castro and Maybelline Requiro Millo, Santiago said.

“Most of them in general are Chinese, but we keep chasing them,” he assured.

“As for our investigation, sila (yong mga sumuko) ang mga opisyal nitong mga companies na ito na aming inimbestigahan (they, the ones who surrendered, are the officials of the companies we investigated),” Santiago said.

Zun Yuan, formerly Hongshen, is a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) based in the city of Bamban. Authorities have raided it for alleged criminal activities, including human trafficking.

The raid and arrest of several people, including foreigners, led to the initiation of a criminal case against Guo and her co-defendants.

The seven surrendered to the NBI after Judge Annielyn B. Medes-Cabelis of Branch 167 of the Pasig City RTC issued an arrest warrant against them on September 19 last year.

Regarding the safety concerns of those who surrendered, Santiago assured “makikipag-coordinate kami sa korte para mabigyan sila ng proteksyon (we will cooperate with the court to provide them with protection).”

Santiago said Puajante and Alpas surrendered to the Organized and Transnational Crime Division (AOTCD) of the NBI on Sunday, September 22, while the rest surrendered to the NBI Central Luzon last week. (With Chito Chavez)