Malacañang has ordered the cancellation of the Philippine passport of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo and her siblings, Palace officials confirmed.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Garafil both confirmed that the Palace directed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to cancel the dismissed mayor's passport through a memorandum signed by Bersamin on Tuesday, Aug. 20.
"Given the foregoing and in the interest of justice, this Office hereby directs that appropriate action be taken for the cancellation of the Philippine passports of Guo, her family, and Ong," Bersamin said.
Included in the request for passport cancellation are Wesley Leal Guo, Sheila Leal Guo, and Katherine Cassandra Li Ong.
The memorandum came after Guo, also identified as Chinese national "Guo Hua Ping", had already fled the country.
Using her Philippine passport, Guo flew to Malaysia, met her family in Singapore, and then traveled to Indonesia.
"It is worthy to note that currently, the Senate issued arrest warrants against Guo and her family for unduly refusing to appear, despite due notices, its probe into the illegal activities of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs)," Bersamin said in his memorandum.
"A criminal complaint has also been filed against her for qualified trafficking, and other cases are likewise being prepared for her alleged involvement in POGO operations. Cassandra Ong ("Ong"), one of the individuals whom Guo met in Singapore, was also cited in contempt by the House of Representatives for her failure to attend hearings," the Palace official added.
Under Republic Act No. 11983, also known as the "New Philippine Passport Act", the DFA Secretary may cancel a passport in the interest of national security. Under the same law, one of the grounds for the cancellation of a Philippine passport is when the court issues an order for its cancellation as the holder is a fugitive from justice.