NO LIMIT After initially saying the burden of proof lies upon the accusers of Alice Guo (center), Senate President Francis Escudero said that Sen. Risa Hontiveros can hold as many committee hearings as she wants to get to the truth about the citizenship of then mayor of Bamban, Tarlac. INQUIRER file photo / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
MANILA, Philippines – Former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo is still in the Philippines and even asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to dismiss the qualified human trafficking complaint against her last August 16.
DOJ Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano IV released a statement on Monday when asked about Sen. Risa Hontiveros’ claim that Guo already left the country in July.
READ: Alice Guo has left the Philippines – Hontiveros
“As far as we know, Mayor Guo is still in the country. There has been no report to us of an attempted departure from the Bureau of Immigration,” Clavano said.
“In fact, she filed a motion for her case in the DOJ last Friday to which she attached a counter affidavit, which was sworn before a Philippine notary public on August 14, 2024. And there have been reported sightings from LEAs (law enforcement agencies) after July 18, 2024,” he added.
Clavano said they are still waiting for the official verification from the NBI “if the documents attributed to them are authentic.”
“We will continue to gather information from both the Bureau of Immigration and the National Bureau of Investigation. This is a case of national significance,” he said.
“Thus, if it is indeed true that Alice Guo has left the country, a thorough investigation is needed to hold those responsible accountable. This is not a light matter,” the DOJ official added.
In a manifestation delivered during the Senate plenary session, Hontiveros revealed that Guo was already in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 18.
She added that Guo used her Philippine passport to exit the country.
Puzzled as to how this happened, Hontiveros questioned the Bureau of Immigration, since the agency earlier promised her and Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada that it would not allow Guo to leave the country.
If not addressed, Hontiveros said the issue would be a big slap to the country’s laws, procedures, and policies.