PAOCC: Arrest of Sheila Guo, Ong prompted by ‘immigration crimes’

Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz shares this undated photo, which, he says , shows dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with members of the media on Thursday, August 22, 2024. The PAOCC said alleged immigration crimes led to the arrest and detention of Sheila Guo and Cassandra Ong in Indonesia on August 21. Sheila Guo is the sister of Alice Guo while Ong is a business associated of the ousted mayor. (Photo from PAOCC Usec. Gilbert Cruz)

MANILA, Philippines — Alleged immigration crimes led to the arrest of Sheila Guo and Cassandra Ong in Indonesia, according to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).

Citing the statement of Indonesian Immigration, the PAOCC said Guo and Ong were nabbed in Batam Center after the Inteldakim Officer at the Batam Immigration Office received a public report of their alleged offense.

PAOCC also said that further investigation by Indonesian authorities led them to the two “suspicious foreigners” who matched with the wanted individuals indicated in the letter of the Philippines’ Department of Justice-Bureau of Immigration (DOJ-BI) on August 19.

“The Officer found that there was a person named ZJ (Singaporean citizen) who booked four rooms at the Harris Hotel Batam Center for the last three days. From the results of checking CCTV, it was found that ZJ was the party who helped them (Sheila and Cassandra) to make hotel reservations,” Safar Godam, Director of Immigration Supervision and Enforcement of Indonesia, said in a statement shared with the Philippine media by PAOCC.

READ: Alice Guo seen in Kuala Lumpur based on photo received by PAOCC

The PAOCC said Sheila Guo, sister of Alice Guo, and Ong, a business partner of the dismissed Tarlac town mayor, were detained at the Batam Special Class I Immigration Office on Wednesday, August 21, and “handed over and escorted by Immigration Officers from the Philippines BI on Thursday.”

“The arrest of Shiela Guo and Cassandra Ong is a concrete step to secure the Asean region from transnational crimes, which is the fruit of the meeting of the Director General of Immigration throughout Asean at the DGICM (Departments and Heads of Consular Affairs Divisions of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs) forum last week,” Godam said.

“Today, we handed them over to the Bl for repatriation to the Philippines. The other two fugitives [Alice Guo and Wesley Guo] are still being pursued. Indonesian and Philippine authorities continue to coordinate to immediately arrest the two fugitives,” Godam added.

READ: Wesley Guo no longer in Indonesia – PAOCC

Shiela Guo and Ong arrived in the country around 5 p.m. on August 22. The plane that carried them landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 in Pasay City.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Shiela Guo and Ong will be placed under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation upon their return to the Philippines.

He said NBI investigators should question and debrief the two women first to determine what happened.

“We have to process them first, atska na muna ‘yung legislative investigation (legislative investigation will follow). We have to process in accordance with the law. We have to respect the rights of people. Ayaw natin mag-violate ng rights (We do not want to violate rights, ” Remulla explained.

Also on Thursday, Senate President Francis Escudero said the Senate would take custody of Sheila Guo while the House of Representatives said it would take custody of Ong.