Alice Guo in police custody

Metro Manila, Philippines – Wanted former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo is now under police custody after returning to the country past midnight on Friday, Sept. 6.

Authorities who escorted Guo from Indonesia where she was arrested turned her over to the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Quezon City where she would stay until she posts bail in Tarlac  where she has an arrest warrant issued by a regional trial court for graft and corruption charges.

“Kapag nakapag-bail sya we would, ma-i-turnover po natin siya sa Senate. Kung wala pa pong bail, it will be under the proceedings ng CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group),” PNP chief PGen Rommel Marbil said in a press briefing.

[Translation: Once she posted bail, we will turn her over to the Senate. If she hasn’t posted bail, it will be under the proceedings of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group]

The Senate ordered the arrest of Guo and seven others in July over their refusal to appear in the chamber’s investigation linking her to illegal offshore gaming operations.

How Alice returned

Guo was on a chartered flight with the arresting team led by Interior Secretary Benhhur Abalos and Marbil.

Upon arrival in a private hangar in Pasay City, it took Guo an hour to go through customs, immigration, and quarantine procedures before facing the media.

“Hindi ko po tatanggalin ang mask ko,” said Guo, who was in a detainee’s uniform and handcuffed.

[Translation: I won’t remove my mask]

Abalos said Indonesian authorities gave the Philippine government until the morning of Sept. 5 (Thursday) to get Guo.

“Nakatanggap ako ng tawag na binibigyan tayo ng hanggang ala-una nang madaling araw dahil nga nadakip ng Indonesian authorities si Alice Guo. Kung hindi ito aayusin ng Pilipinas, papakawalan nila si Alice Guo,” said Abalos.

[Translation: I received a call, giving us a 1 a.m. deadline to get Alice Guo. If the Philippines won’t meet this, Indonesian officials would release her.]

Abalos also said the team went to Indonesia without the assurance of bringing home the former mayor.

“Itong operasyon na ‘to ay dahil sa tinatawag nating police to police. Nagkaroon ng memorandum of understanding ng kapulisyahan ng Pilipinas at kapulisyahan ng Indonesia,” said Abalos.

[Translation: This is called police-to-police operations. The police of the Philippines and Indonesia had a memorandum of understanding.]

Indonesian authorities turned over Guo to Philippine officials on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 5.

Guo secretly fled the country on July 18 through land travels and boat transfers, according to her supposed sister Sheila.

Indonesian authorities arrested her on Sept. 4.