The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) have patched up over the issue concerning the withholding of information concerning the escape of dismissed Mayor Alice L. Guo of Bamban, Tarlac.

DOJ Undersecretary Raul T. Vasquez said on Sunday, Sept. 8, during an interview on Teleradyo that “naayos na ho ‘yun (It’s been fixed).”

“Ngayon meron ng pong coordination ‘yung communications kaya mas maige na meron ng mga designated individuals na dapat pwede magsalita lamang lalo ng kung mga official declarations (Now we have better with our communications that’s why it would be better if there are designated individuals who can talk especially on official declarations),” he said.

Vasquez stated that the relationship between the DOJ and its attached agency, the BI, “okay naman ho (it’s okay).”

“Patuloy pa rin ang pagseserbisyo ng BI sa kanikanilang mandato. Ganoon din sa amin tuloy pa din ho ang  pagsusupervise po namin, pagtulong po namin sa kanila kung may pangangailangan na dapat gawin (The BI continues to provide service under it’s Mandate. 

Likewise, the DOJ continues to supervise the BI and help it when something needs to be done),” said the undersecretary.

Vasquez pointed these out after DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla revealed last Sept. 4 that he has not been talking to BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco for not immediately informing the department about information that Guo left the Philippines.

“Kaya hindi kami nag-uusap hanggang ngayon. Hindi tama ‘yung ganoong klaseng asal (That’s why we are not talking. That’s not the right attitude),” Remulla said last Sept. 4.

Concerning the secretary’s statement, Vasquez said “normal naman ho ‘yun kasi ang pakiramdam ng ating mahal na kalihim ay meron na kasi silang information even before na nakawala na daw ‘yung tatlong pugante, si Alice, si Shiela at tsaka si Wesley pero hindi kami napagsabihan at may isang panahaon na para bang iba-iba ang salita ng pareparehas na representative or spokesperson ng ating kagawaran (it’s normal for Remulla to say that because he felt the BI had information that Guo and her siblings Shiela and Wesley fled the Philippines but we were not informed and the BI spokesperson made different statements).”

“Ang pagkasabi naman nila inimbestigahan nila. ‘Di nila ibinigay dahil hindi daw kumpleto pa (They explained that they were investigating the information. They did not reveal it because it was under investigation),” he.

Previously, BI Spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval revealed during an interview on PTV that BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco received information on Aug. 15 that Guo already left the Philippines but decided to verify it until news broke out about the escape on Aug. 19. 

Vasquez believes that the withholding of the information “parang hindi ho maganda tingnan ‘yun (it seems it doesn’t look good).”

“Mas maige sana napagsabihan kaagad para nakagalaw naman ang ating gobyerno. Kasi tingnan n’yo nakaabot ‘yan sa pamamagitan ng paghingi ng tulong sa Interpol (It would have been better if the immediately informed us so that the government could take action. When you look at it we had to get the help of the International Criminal Police Organization),” he said.

Meanwhile, Vasquez said investigation continues in determining who may have helped Guo escape from the Philippines.

“Meron na pangunahing resulta. Hindi nga lang ho namin pwede sabihin kasi pwede unfair….at the same time malalaman ho natin kung meron pa bang taong involved (There is already an initial result. We just don’t want to publicly reveal it because it is unfair…at the time we will be able to know if there are other people involved),” said the undersecretary who did not want to give a timeline as to when the probe will be finished.

The DOJ official assured that those found involved will be administratively and criminally held liable.

“Buhay at source of income ang pinag-uusapan dito…So we have to be very careful. Dapat bago iimpose ang isang penalty for example to let them explain. Bibigyan mo sila ng pagkakataon, ng due process, constitutionally, para ilahad ang kanilang side of the story kung meron man (Life and source of income is involved here…So we have to very careful. Before you impose a penalty should you should let them explain. Give them the chance, due process under the Constitution to explain their side if they have one),” he pointed out.