Dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo appears in the Senate on Monday, September 9, 2024, at the resumption of the Senate inquiry into the Pogo hub in Tarlac. INQUIRER.net / NOY MORCOSO
MANILA, Philippines — Dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo’s appearance at a Senate hearing last Monday after months in hiding ignited more questions about her escape plan, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said.
In a press briefing on Wednesday, Remulla also insisted that Guo (real name: Guo Hua Ping) used an airplane in fleeing the Philippines.
READ: Alice Guo reveals she fled Philippines aboard a yacht
“Judging from the hearings of the Senate, I don’t think she’s telling the truth. I think that there are more questions than answers given by Alice Guo. Hindi ho ganun kadali magbyahe ng barko at bangka at yate nang ganun-ganun lang,” he said.
(Judging from the hearings of the Senate, I don’t think she’s telling the truth. I think that there are more questions than answers given by Alice Guo. It’s not that easy to travel by ship, boat, or yacht just like that.)
“They used a plane sometime; hindi pwedeng boat lang ‘yan,” he added.
(They used a plane at some point; it can’t be just a boat.)
Remulla was referring to Guo’s claim during the hearing that she left the country onboard a yacht.
The Justice chief said concerned agencies are still checking for possible leads on Guo’s escape route.
“We’re still trying to have the Bureau of Immigration look at all the flight records, and of course the coast guard [on] what vessels went out of that direction on that day,” said Remulla.
READ: Alice Guo back in Philippines following arrest in Indonesia
Guo was brought back to the Philippines last September 6 after being arrested in Indonesia.
Public interest in Guo’s whereabouts intensified following Senator Risa Hontiveros’ revelation last August 19 that the ex-mayor had already left the country last July 18.