Authorities in multiple Southeast Asian countries have been placed on high alert to apprehend former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, who fled the Philippines amid an ongoing investigation into her alleged connections with illegal gambling syndicates. This update was provided by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday.
Guo was last seen in the Philippines in mid-July, reportedly escaping from a resort via a speedboat. Authorities have since confirmed that she has been spotted in at least three Southeast Asian countries, with the most recent sighting in Indonesia.
Senator Gatchalian mentioned in an ABS-CBN News report, “I spoke with ASEAN ambassadors earlier, and they informed me that their respective authorities are also on alert, which will make it difficult for her to move within ASEAN.” He expressed confidence that Guo would be apprehended in Indonesia.
Recently, Guo’s sister, Shiela, along with their associate Cassandra Li-Ong, who is linked to the raided Lucky South 99 gambling hub in Pampanga, were arrested in Batam, Indonesia. They were subsequently deported to the Philippines and are expected to testify at congressional hearings this week.
Gatchalian stressed the importance of their cooperation, stating, “They have nowhere to go, so it would be better for them to explain how the POGO hub in Porac and Bamban were established, and how Alice Guo and her family got involved.”
The senator added that uncovering connections with syndicates could aid the government in building a solid case. The Senate is awaiting Shiela Guo’s potential cooperation in revealing the methods and scope of illegal gambling operations in the Philippines before considering her eligibility for the Witness Protection Program.