The Senate will pursue the filing of perjury charges against dismissed mayor Alice Guo or Guo Hua Ping, despite reports that she has already fled the country.
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said the Senate’s legal department is now building up an “airtight” case against Guo, who has continued to defy the Senate’s arrest order.
“Yes, we have referred the case to our Senate legal team and to decide on who will draft the affidavit,” Escudero said in a press conference.
According to Escudero, the Office of the Senate Sergeant at Arms (OSAA) will be at the forefront of the filing.
“Of course, Senators Sherwin (Gatchalian) and Risa (Hontiveros) have no personal knowledge about (Guo’s) lie and refusal to follow the (Senate) subpoena. Those who are more knowledgeable about the circumstances are the members of the OSAA and other Senate employees,” Escudero said.
“We need to come up with an airtight case against Guo,” he said, adding that he has discussed the matter with Gatchalian.
Gatchalian said that even if Guo was able to evade authorities, he will ensure that those who aided her escape are held responsible.
“This is a slap in the face of the Bureau of Immigration, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and the airport manager concerned. You can't just walk into an airport undetected, nor can you leave our airports undocumented. You have to pass through immigration and countless CCTVs. There should be traces of movement inside the airport all the way to boarding the plane,” Gatchalian said.
He said Guo’s escape should not deter the government from prosecuting her.
“This is a temporary setback for the country. The cases should continue. She is now facing numerous charges. Her world will shrink, and the long arm of the law will eventually catch up to her,” he said.
He pointed out that making false statements while under oath is a violation of Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code.
Also, Guo’s refusal to attend the Senate hearing is a violation of Article 150 of the Revised Penal Code which penalizes disobedience to summons issued by Congress.
“It’s not enough that we ban POGOs. We need to ensure that those responsible for the crimes are held accountable for their actions. Dapat managot at mahalagang makasuhan ang mga taong nasa likod ng mga krimen na kinasasangkutan ng mga POGO (The people behind crimes involving POGOs must be held accountable and prosecuted),” Gatchalian stressed.
At the same time, the senators welcomed President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s promise to expose the government officials responsible for allowing dismissed mayor Alice Guo to leave the country.
Escudero also lauded the President for announcing that “heads will roll” apparently directed to those who enabled Guo to escape from the country.
“Well dapat lamang dahil nakaka-frustrate naman talaga na nakatakas at nakaalpas si Mayor Guo (Well, it should be because it is really frustrating that the former mayor Guo was able to escape),” Escudero said.
“Dapat lang marinig sa Chief Executive kung may executive agencies na nagpabaya or kasabwat. Dapat lang may managot (It’s only right for the Chief Executive to hold accountable any executive agencies that were negligent or are actually accomplices. It’s only right that somebody is held accountable). That’s the principle of transparency and accountability,” Sen. Risa Hontiveros said in a separate press conference.
Hontiveros also welcomed the Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin’s order for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to cancel Guo’s Philippine passport.
“At sana masunod ang utos sa lalong madaling panahon (I hope that the order will be followed at the soonest time possible),” she said.
She also received information that the DFA has alerted the Interpol about Guo’s case for appropriate action, together with the passports of Guo’s siblings and Cassandra Li Ong.
“So I really welcome the action of the Executive secretary and appreciate the past and present actions of the DFA on this case,” Hontiveros said.