2 Alice Guo companions detained in Indonesia —Abalos

Two companions of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo are already in the custody of Indonesian authorities, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos said Thursday.

“I received a report last night galing kay [Philippine National Police chief Police General Rommel Marbil] na dalawa sa kasama niya ay naka-detain na sa Indonesia,” Abalos said in an ambush interview.

(I received a report last night from Chief PNP that two of her companions have been detained in Indonesia.)

A report by GMA Integrated News' John Consulta on Balitanghali identified the two arrested as Cassandra Li Ong and Guo's sister Sheila Guo.

A source told GMA Integrated News that the two were about to leave Indonesia when they were intercepted by local authorities there. The two are expected to be brought back to the Philippines.

According to the source, local authorities continue to conduct manhunt operations to capture Alice Guo, who is believed to be in Batam, Indonesia.

Ong was the authorized representative of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) that was raided in Porac, Pampanga for alleged illegal activities. Alice Guo is facing charges in connection with a raided POGO hub in Bamban.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the arrest of the two proves the connection between the raided POGO hubs in Bamban, Tarlac and in Porac, Pampanga.

"Tthe connection is there. It proves the connection between Bamban and Porac," Remulla said in a separate interview.

When asked about the cancellation of the passport of Guo and others, Remulla said authorities cannot "summarily cancel" a passport. He said the cancellation of the group's passport will also lead to difficulty in making them travel back to the Philippines

"It was not found advisable also to treat it summarily because if the passports are cancelled immediately, then how can you make them travel back to the country. You will have to issue a travel document which should be an admission that they are Filipino citizens," he said.

"So it's something that is a little tricky," he added.

Remulla said authorities also suspect that passports of Ong and Sheila Guo were fraudulently obtained.

Meanwhile, asked on what grounds the two were detained, Abalos said he will check on the matter but authorities are now coordinating with the police attaché in Indonesia.

“Pinapa-check ko pa ito but what is important even sa ibang bansa through our police attaché ay kino-coordinate. It only shows talagang seryoso dito ang kapulisyahan,” he said.

(I am still having it checked but what is important even in another country we are coordinating with our police attaché. It only shows that the police are really serious.)

Alice Guo's name was listed on the immigration lookout bulletin following the investigation into her true identity and her link to illegal POGO activities in Bamban.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Tuesday confirmed that Alice Guo, whose real name is Guo Hua Ping according to authorities, is in Indonesia amid the complaints filed against her, including for alleged human trafficking.

Government agencies discovered that Guo already left the Philippines for Malaysia as early as July 18.

The PNP earlier said it has to work through diplomatic channels to bring Alice Guo back to the country.

The government is also set to file more cases against Guo in the next few weeks, according to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) on Wednesday.

Alice Guo has denied the allegations against her. Her lawyer, Atty Stephen David, earlier said as far as he knows, the dismissed mayor is still in the Philippines.  —with Joahna Lei Casilao/KBK, GMA Integrated News