PAOCC pushes ‘whole-of-gov’t’ strategy to prevent similar Guo cases
Alice Guo —File photo from the House of Representatives
MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) on Tuesday urged a “whole-of-government” approach to prevent cases similar to that of dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, who obtained a fraudulent Philippine passport and left the country despite facing multiple criminal investigations.
This came after the Bureau of Immigration admitted in a Senate hearing that it remains uncertain how Guo and her siblings exited the Philippines and evaded jurisdiction.
READ: BI still clueless about Alice Guo’s escape months into Senate probe
“The alarming case of Alice Leal Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping, raises critical concerns regarding her acquisition of a fraudulent Philippine passport and her ability to leave the country while under multiple criminal investigations,” PAOCC said in a statement.
“This situation is entirely unacceptable,” the agency added.
To address these concerns, Paocc proposed a “whole-of-government” strategy focused on the following:
- Establishing an independent investigative body to identify local civil registries that facilitate late birth registrations for ineligible foreign nationals
- urging the Office of the Solicitor General to expedite the cancellation of fraudulent birth records and passports through appropriate legal channels
- coordinating border control agencies to strengthen protocols and prevent wanted criminals from escaping through the country’s weak entry and exit points
- prohibiting the deportation of foreign nationals via transit or connecting flights to ensure proper oversight
- purging fraudulent records from the databases of the BI, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Statistics Authority, and the Department of Foreign Affairs
- streamlining the deportation process for foreign nationals apprehended in scam operations to expedite legal action.
While these measures may not fully resolve the country’s border security challenges, Paocc said they could serve as a “catalyst for much-needed reforms.”
“It is vital that various agencies collaborate as a cohesive unit rather than operate in isolation, as past efforts have often resulted in temporary fixes,” the agency emphasized.
PAOCC also echoed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for accountability among those who helped Guo evade the country’s justice system.
READ: Marcos on Alice Guo’s departure: ‘Heads will roll’
“Identifying these individuals is essential, as they compromise the integrity of the agencies involved, which have been unjustly implicated by the spread of misinformation,” it stated.
“We must not hesitate to pursue criminal accountability for both public and private individuals if the evidence warrants prosecution,” PAOCC added.`
