BI did not immediately release info on Guo’s whereabouts due to validation

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) wanted to validate information on dismissed Mayor Alice Guo’s whereabouts which explained the delay in disclosure, its chief said Friday, Aug. 23.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said they received information on Guo on Aug. 15 but wanted to be careful before making it public.

“When we got the info, I already made initial verification with my counterparts for the checking. We did not immediately issue a statement until we have validated the information kasi ayaw namin makuryente [because we do not want to release false details],” Tansingco said in a briefing.

“When we were able to validate na nandoon sila sa ganitong lugar, I immediately sent a formal request sa counterparts namin na tulungan, for assistance na ma-recover sila,” he added.

[Translation: When we were able to validate that they were in that certain place, I immediately sent a formal request to our counterparts for assistance to recover them.]

Questions were raised when Senator Risa Hontiveros revealed on Aug. 19 that Guo has exited the country.

Senator Win Gatchalian questioned attempts to seemingly conceal information, adding that even President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “was kept in the dark.”

Government efforts are underway to arrest Guo, who has been tagged in crimes linked to offshore gaming.

She reportedly left the country for Malaysia in July. She then went to Singapore, together with her siblings Shiela and Wesley. They took a cruise in Singapore to Indonesia, where Shiela and Guo’s business associate, Cassandra Li Ong, were caught.