Hontiveros: Alice Guo escaped due to ‘Pastillas scam part 2’?

Alice Guo —RICHARD A. REYES Risa Hontiveros —SENATE PRIB

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Risa Hontiveros couldn’t help but wonder if an official of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) linked to the infamous Pastillas scam was among those personalities who helped Alice Guo escape from the Philippine jurisdiction.

Hontiveros aired her concern during the subpanel on justice’s hearing on Thursday after she questioned why BI’s Control and Intel Unit (BICU), which is tasked to perform intel and counter-intel duties to strengthen the operational capability of all international ports of entry and exit of the country, is being headed by a certain Vincent Bryan Alias.

“In 2022, the Office of the Ombudsman found Mr. Alias administratively liable for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. He was dismissed from service then in relation to his involvement in the pastillas scam extortion scheme,” she said.

“There are also graft cases filed against him in the Sandiganbayan. So paano po nangyari na ginawa pa siyang head ng BICU? Would you know paano pa po nangyari yon?” she asked.

(How come he was appointed as the head of BICU? Would you know how that happened?)

At the end of Hontiveros’ prodding was BI’s Intelligence Division chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. who answered that he is not very particular about Alias’ involvement in such a case.

“Hindi kaya ito ay puno’t dulo ng problemang iniimbestiga namin at dapat niyong ayusin sa side ng executive? Na sa dinami dami ng mga Pilipino na puwedeng gumanap ng mga tungkulin ng BI at ng mga sensitibong parte niya katulad ng BICU, ang pina in charge pa sa borders natin ay isang tao na inakusahan ng korapsyon. Couldn’t the BI have done better?” Hontiveros pointed out.

(Couldn’t this be the cause of the problem we are investigating and you should fix it on the executive side? Of the many Filipinos who can perform the functions of the BI and its sensitive parts such as the BICU, the one who has been put in charge at our borders is a person who has been accused of corruption.)

“Pastillas part 2 ba ito kaya nakatakas si Alice? Jumbo pastillas na siguro ito ano?” she joked.

(Is this a part 2 of the Pastillas scheme that’s why Alice was able to leave the country? Maybe this is jumbo pastillas?)

Manahan said as far as he knows, Alias is doing his job well.

This prompted Hontiveros to fume again, noting that such a role is important and for a person involved in an infamous case is a “very very strange and actually unacceptable situation.”

Later into the hearing, Hontiveros asked Manahan whether BI had initiated an investigation into the possible involvement of some of its personnel in Guo’s escape.

Manahan said they are considering it and if there is indeed an involvement, the BI will file criminal sanctions against these erring individuals.

Earlier, Sen. Win Gatchalian said BI was well aware that Guo had left the country, but it kept the information away from the Marcos administration.

READ: Gatchalian: BI knew Guo gone, kept Marcos in the dark