Alice Guo spotted in Malaysia airport on July 21; Shiela Guo, Cassandra Ong arrested

With Ong's arrest in Indonesia with Guo's sister, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla says it's proof that POGO hubs in Porac and Bamban are "connected.

"We found a connection between Alice Guo and Cassandra Ong," he said.

Remulla also suspects that the passports were obtained fraudulently, so Shiela and Ong will be brought back to the Philippines.

He added that the Department of Justice cannot cancel their passports even if Malacañang ordered it.

"If the passports are canceled immediately, then how can you make them travel back to the country? You'll have to issue a travel document which should be an admission that they're Filipino citizens," the Justice chief said.

In a separate interview, PAOCC said it has yet to discuss whether Shiela and Ong will be under Senate or Department of Justice custody.

"Pwedeng sila lamang ay idedeport primarily because they were deemed undesirable in Indonesia because of their association with criminal organization. It may not be technically an arrest pero they are being deported because of being undesirable aliens," Casio said.

Guo's escape

With Guo's departure from the Philippines, Senate President Chiz Escudero renewed his call for general aviation terminals where customs and immigration can check rented and exclusive flights.

"Without a generation aviation terminal, individuals with private planes can bypass standard procedures, including inspections by customs and immigration, making it easier for them to travel in and out of the country undetected," the senator said.

“Without a dedicated terminal for private flights, law enforcement agencies are left in a difficult position, struggling to monitor and prevent the departure of individuals who can easily evade detection.”

He expressed suspicion that Guo escaped through a chartered plane while also acknowledging that she could have used other means.

"Malamang iyon ang ginagawa niya. Maliban na lang kung nagbarko rin siya," Escudero said.

Based on an investigation by the Bureau of Immigration, Guo fled through the backdoor to avoid detection. PAOCC's Casio said that they are not discounting the possibility the former mayor had help from unscrupulous people in the government.

Earlier in July, the Senate issued arrest orders against Guo, her sister Shiela, other family members Wesley Leal Guo, Jian Zhong Guo, Seimen Guo, and Wen Yi Lin, former accountant Nancy Gamo, and ex-government official Dennis Cunanan.

As for Ong, Hontiveros said that she had been under watch as she could speak on who is behind the Lucky South 99 POGO in Porac, Pampanga. The House of Representatives has also cited her in contempt during a panel on Aug. 16 for her failure to attend inquiries.

Guo's departure from the Philippines has been reported to the International Police, as per Hontiveros.

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said a full-scale investigation is underway and those responsible for aiding Guo's departure from the country will be suspended and held accountable. 

Guo has been subject to scrutiny since she was allegedly linked to two POGOs in her bailiwick: Hongsheng Gaming Technology Incorporated, which was raided in February 2023, and Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated, which was raided in March this year.

She was questioned as to why she was supposedly unaware of such alleged illegal activities. In past Senate hearings, she was also asked about her background to confirm her nationality, which she has since maintained that she's Filipino and has denied having ties to POGOs in Bamban and being a Chinese spy.  

But as weeks passed, authorities discovered discrepancies in several documents involving Guo, as well as holes in her stories. 

In July, the Senate issued arrest orders against Guo and seven others for skipping recent hearings on the raided POGO hubs in their place. 

She’s also facing other complaints in line with alleged tax evasion and human trafficking. (with reports Cecille Suerte Felipe, Manny Tupas, Daphne Galvez)