Two of the companions of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo when she left the country last month are now detained in Indonesia, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos, Jr. disclosed on Thursday, Aug. 22.
Abalos said the report came from the police attaché of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Indonesia.
‘I received a report last night (Wednesday, Aug, 21) from the Chief PNP (Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil) that two of her companions were detained in Indonesia,” Abalos told reporters in an interview at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).
Abalos said they are still checking on the circumstances as to why Guo’s companions were detained.
“What is important here is that even in other countries, through our police attaché and coordination, the PNP is serious on this matter,” said Abalos.
Earlier, Sen. Risa Hontiveros disclosed that Guo and other companions were able to leave the country using a Philippine passport. This was confirmed by intelligence reports of some agencies.
The incident prompted President Marcos to issue a statement assuring the public that “heads will roll” in connection with the escape of Guo.
How?
In a press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo confirmed the information and said that Abalos was referring to Guo’s sister Sheila Guo and Cassandra Ong.
Ong was tagged as the person behind the illegal POGO operation in Porac, Pampanga.
“We would like to confirm that the Immigration of Indonesia is in custody of Sheila Guo and Cassandra Ong. They were held at 6:45 a.m. on August 21,” said Fajardo.
Fajardo explained that the PNP started working on the interception of Guo and her companions when they received information that they were able to leave the country last month.
“As soon as this was reported, our Foreign Liaison Division, through our police attachés, started working by coordinating with foreign counterparts. There was also a request that their passports be cancelled,” said Fajardo.
“And because of their cancelled passports, they were held in Indonesia and we expect that they will be repatriated soon to the Philippines,” she added.
The case of Quiboloy
In the same interview, Abalos assured that the PNP and other law enforcement agencies will make sure that fugitive Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy would not be able to leave the country.
Quiboloy is the subject of two arrest warrants for cases relating to human trafficking and abuse of children.
“We assure you that we are looking for Pastor Quiboloy. Based on our report, he is still in the Philippines,” said Abalos.
A police official earlier revealed that Quiboloy has been hiding inside the KOJC compound in Davao City. But the arrest warrant, he said, could not be served as this may result in a violent confrontation of policemen and supporters of Quiboloy.