Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo was transferred yesterday to the Pasig City Jail from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial facility, authorities confirmed.
But a few hours later, Guo was allowed by the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) to stay at the custodial facility of the PNP at Camp Crame in Quezon City pending the resolution of her motion to reconsider the custody order. Guo is under detention on arrest order issued by the House of Representatives on contempt citation.
Guo was transferred by the PNP to the Pasig City jail under the supervision of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
The BJMP, on Monday afternoon, said that Guo will remain in the custody of the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory.
BJMP spokesperson Supt. Jayrex Bustinera confirmed that at present Guo will stay at the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory in response to inquiries about the Pasig City RTC’s order that allowed the former mayor to remain at the PNP custodial facility pending her motion to reconsider.
“Hindi na updated. Stay (Guo) na daw sa amin (BJMP) (It has not been updated. She will stay with us),’’ Bustinera said in an interview.
Pasig City RTC Judge Annielyn B. Medes-Cabelis issued an order that held in abeyance Guo's transfer to the city's jail pending resolution of the dismissed mayor's motion for reconsideration.
“While this court already issued a Commitment Order dated 19 September 2024 directing the transfer of the custody of the accused-movant to the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory, the Chief of the NCR CIDG Custodial Facility, Camp Crame, Quezon City is directed to hold in abeyance the transfer of the custody of the accused-movant pending resolution,” Judge Cabelis said in her order.
Also, the judge ordered the PNP to bring Guo to the hearing on the motion set on Sept. 27, also the day set by the court for her arraignment and pre-trial.
The judge explained the hearing is meant to “aid the court in determining the veracity of the allegations of the accused-movant that there are threats on her personal safety and security” as well as to find out if “the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory has the adequate security measures to safeguard the security and safety of the accused-movant and all Persons Deprived of Liberty currently committed at their jail facility….”
Guo and her co-accused are facing before the RTC charges of qualified trafficking in persons in violation of Republic Act (RA) 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, in connection with the criminal activities of Zun Yuan Technology Center, a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Bamban that was raided by authorities.
Guo's convoy arrived at the Pasig jail at around 9:14 a.m. from the PNP's detention facility.
The PNP postponed her transfer last September 20 pending the necessary requirements for her medical assessment.
The facility, operated by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), contains 44 other inmates.
However, BJMP spokesperson Jail Supt. Jayrex Bustinera said that Guo will be staying in a separate detention cell after her x-ray result during her medical assessment showed that she has a possible lung infection.
Guo will be sharing the cell with three other inmates who are recovering from tuberculosis (TB).
Sputum test
A “Gene-Xpert lab test’’ will be undertaken at the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory to confirm the tuberculosis (TB) impression in the X-ray result of Guo, Bustinera said.
The “Gene Xpert’’ is a new test for tuberculosis that determines if a person is infected with TB, and also if the TB bacterium of the person has resistance.
Bustinera said BJMP chief Director Ruel Rivera ordered the confirmatory test to find out right away if Guo should be placed in the TB isolated or general population cells.
The Philippine National Police (PNP), which had previous custody of Guo, came out with the X-ray result that showed the dismissed mayor has lung infection.
Guo's co-accused surrender
The seven co-accused of Guo in the non-bailable qualified trafficking in persons case filed before the Pasig City RTC have surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago presented them to the media in a press conference on Monday, Sept. 23.
They were identified as Zun Yuan Technology, Inc. president Jamielyn Santos Cruz, Juan Miguel Alpas, Roderick Paul Bernardo Puajante, Hongshen Gaming, Inc. president and chief executive officer Thelma Barrogo Requiro, Rita Sapnu Uyturralde, Rowena Evangelista, and Rachelle Joan Malonzo Carreon.
The co-accused who remain at large are Huang Zhiyang, Zhang Ruijin, Baoying Lin, Yu Zheng Can, Dennis Lacson Cunanan, Merlie Joy Manalo Castro, and Maybelline Requiro Millo, Santiago said.
“Karamihan Chinese ang at large pa pero hindi kami tumitigil sa paghahanap sa kanila (Most of those at large are Chinese but we continue to hunt them down),” he assured.
“As far as our investigation is concerned sila (yong mga sumuko) ang mga opisyal nitong mga corporations na ito na aming inimbestigahan (they, those who surrendered, are the officials of the corporations we have been investigating),” Santiago said.
Zun Yuan, previously called Hongshen, is a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) located in Bamban town that was raided by authorities over alleged criminal activities including human trafficking.
The raid and the arrest of several persons, including foreigners, led to the filing the criminal case against Guo and her co-accused.
The seven surrendered to the NBI after Judge Annielyn B. Medes-Cabelis of Branch 167 of the Pasig City RTC issued last Sept. 19 an arrest warrant against them.
As to the safety concerns raised by those who surrendered, Santiago assured “makikipag-coordinate kami sa korte para mabigyan sila ng proteksyon (we will coordinate with the court to provide them protection).”
Santiago said that Puajante and Alpas surrendered before the NBI’s Organized and Transnational Crime Division (AOTCD) on Sunday, Sept. 22, while the rest surrendered to the NBI Central Luzon last week. (With Chito Chavez)