With the cancellation of the passport of dismissed mayor Alice L. Guo of Bamban, Tarlac, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said it will go “all out” in prosecuting her and her co-accused for the non-bailable qualified human trafficking case.
In a statement, the DOJ said that Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla hailed the cancellation as “a very timely and decisive move of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).”
Guo’s passport was cancelled last Sept. 30 for violation of Republic Act No. 11983, the New Philippine Passport Act.
Last Aug. 24, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) reported that Guo’s biometrics “perfectly matched those of a certain Guo Hua Ping.”
The DFA said it terminated the "fraudulently acquired" Philippine passport of Guo upon its receipt of the request from the DOJ.
It cancelling Guo’s passport, the DFA cited the provision in the passport law which states: "A passport may be denied, or cancelled, or restrictions may be imposed on a passport, based on the following grounds: when a passport was acquired fraudulently, tampered with, or issued erroneously."
"DFA's decisive call to revoke the passport of Guo undoubtedly opened the doors to justice. This marks the beginning of a relentless pursuit to ensure accountability and uphold the rule of law," Remulla said.
"Rest assured, your efforts won't be in vain, we will prosecute this case to the fullest until justice is served," he assured.
In the same statement, the DOJ said that Guo is a "flight risk after being able to travel to Singapore and Malaysia until she was held in Indonesia last July, hence, her passport revocation comes at a very perfect time.”
Aside from the qualified human trafficking case and a graft case pending before the Pasig City and Valenzuela City regional trial courts (RTCs), respectively, Guo and several other respondents have also been charged with money laundering, falsification and perjury in complaints now pending before the DOJ.