DOJ vows ‘all-out’ prosecution of Alice Guo after passport cancelation

Metro Manila, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) vowed state prosecutors would mount an “all-out” prosecution of dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo after the government canceled her passport.

The National Prosecution Service is charging Guo and her co-accused in the qualified human trafficking case against them before the DOJ.

“DFA’s (Department of Foreign Affairs) 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,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said in a statement on Saturday, Oct. 5.

“Rest assured, your (DFA) efforts won’t be in vain, we will prosecute this case to the fullest until justice is served,” he said.

Guo no longer holds a “fraudulently acquired” Philippine passport effective Sept. 30, the DFA announced Friday.

The DOJ said the passport revocation “comes at a very perfect time” as the agency has tagged Guo a “flight risk” after she successfully left the country undetected.

Guo exited the country for Malaysia in July, then to Singapore and Indonesia. She was arrested in Tangerang City in Jakarta in early September before being transferred to Philippine custody.

The former mayor is detained in the Pasig City Jail for a qualified human trafficking charge.

She also faces misrepresentation and money laundering raps, the DOJ said.

Guo is at the center of the illegal offshore gaming operations scandal, with her Chinese citizenship among the issues hounding her in congressional hearings.