MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros declared on Monday that dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo had left the country.

According to Hontiveros, Guo departed from the Philippines on July 17 and arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the following day.

During a Senate session, the senator presented documentation of Guo’s alleged arrival in Malaysia.

“I am now in receipt of information that, in fact, this person was already out of the country on July 18, 2024, to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,” Hontiveros stated during the Senate session.

Hontiveros also mentioned that Guo used her Philippine passport to exit the country.

“Ayon sa aking isa pang source, Mr. President, tumuloy si Alice Guo sa Singapore, kung saan nagtagpo-tagpo sila ng kanyang magulang na sina Lin Wen Yi at Guo JianZhong. The couple flew in from China on July 28, 2024. Mistulang reunion sila doon kasama sina Wesley Guo at si Cassandra Ong,” the senator said.

“Mr. President, who allowed this travesty to happen? Sino ang may kagagawan nito? Hindi makakaalis si Alice Guo kung walang tumulong sa kanya na mga opisyales ng pamahalaan. Para tayong ginisa sa sarili nating mantika. I have always believed that legislative hearings are policy-driven kaya noong nag-announce na ng ban ang Pangulo, sabi ko, we have done our jobs, let law enforcement take the lead,” the senator added.

“Kung hindi po natin ito gawan ng paraan, as an institution, as a country, parang nagpasampal tayo sa dayuhang ito na paulit-ulit na sinasaula ang ating mga batas, patakaran, at proseso,” the senator emphasized.

Guo has drawn attention from authorities and the public since she was allegedly linked to two POGOs operating in her jurisdiction: Hongsheng Gaming Technology Incorporated, which was raided in February 2023, and Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated, which was shutdown in March 2024.

She was questioned about how she could have been unaware of such alleged criminal activities. In previous Senate hearings, Guo was also questioned about her background to verify her nationality, particularly since she holds an elected position as Mayor of Bamban, Tarlac.

Guo denied allegations that she was a Chinese agent and had ties to POGOs. Despite her claims of being homeschooled and raised on a farm in Tarlac, authorities found inconsistencies in multiple documents pertaining to Guo and gaps in her narrative.

Netizens React: Who Allowed Alice Guo to Leave?

Netizens criticized authorities for allowing the ousted Bamban Mayor to leave the country.

“Who let Alice Guo?” asked Marc F.

“Hindi pa rin ba pwede kasuhan at ipatawag ang mga abogado nito lalo na National Interest ang involved? Sobrang laking corruption case nito para baliwalain,” another commentator said, stressing that Guo’s escape is a matter of national concern.

“The Bureau of Immigration is still one of the most corrupt government offices. Pag yan nakakatakas sa kanila. Yung iba naman hinohold. Paano?” Noriel F. said, blaming the BI for Guo’s escape from justice.

“The alleged escape of Alice Guo from the Philippines is a glaring example of systemic failure within the country’s law enforcement and immigration systems. If the reports are accurate, this incident highlights a disturbing lack of coordination and oversight among the agencies responsible for securing national borders and ensuring justice is served,” said Aric E.

“How could someone under legal scrutiny manage to evade authorities and leave the country without raising alarms? This situation not only undermines the credibility of the Philippines’ justice system but also sets a dangerous precedent for others who may seek to avoid accountability. It raises serious questions about the efficiency of the current protocols in place and whether they are sufficient to prevent similar incidents in the future,” Aric E. added.

“Moreover, this case exposes a potential culture of negligence or even corruption that could allow such a high-profile individual to slip through the cracks. It’s not just an embarrassment; it’s a wake-up call. The authorities must launch a thorough investigation into this escape, identify the weaknesses in the system, and hold accountable those who enabled or allowed this to happen. The public deserves transparency and a swift response to restore confidence in the institutions tasked with upholding justice. Anything less would be a disservice to the rule of law and a stain on the nation’s reputation,” Aric E. stressed.

There are also those who praised the senator for exposing Guo as one of the POGO’s benefactors.

“Sa ipinapakitang tapang ni Sen. Risa para sa truth mabuhay risking her life the greatest senator po today ang nag-iisang lumalaban para sa katotohanan po,” said Ian A., praising the senator’s efforts in exposing Guo’s actions.

Aurora M. similarly praised Hontiveros: “Sen. Risa, SOBRA hanga ko sa iyo sa tapang sa dignidad, sa talk no at etc pa. Tama po NASA GOBYERNO din po Ang tumulong Kay Alice Go maaaring NASA senado din…lakas Ng apog non.”

📷 Sen. Risa Hontiveros FB