MANILA (UPDATED) – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has directed the filing of charges against the sister and a reported business associate of Alice Guo, the dismissed mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, an official announced on Wednesday.
Shiela Guo, whose real name is Zhang Mie and is the sister of Alice Guo, is set to face charges for disobedience to summons and using a falsified Philippine passport, according to DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Ty.
Ty also mentioned that Cassandra Li Ong, a representative of Lucky South 99 POGO, would be charged with disobedience to summons and obstruction of justice.
In addition, Ty stated that money laundering charges are expected to be filed against Shiela Guo and potentially Ong this week. He noted that Ong might also soon face charges of qualified human trafficking due to her alleged connections with the POGO operations in Porac, Pampanga.
When asked if Shiela Guo could serve as a state witness, Ty responded, “Ayoko naman pangunahan pero qualified siya eh, kasi kung tutuusin, hindi naman siya yung pinaka may pakana nitong ilegal na bagay. Kung maniniwala tayo kahapon sa mga asta niya, ay parang nadamay lang siya.”
Shiela Guo and Ong were detained in Indonesia last week.
Authorities suspect that Alice Guo is currently in Jakarta and have requested Indonesian officials to deport her.
The former mayor has been evading capture following accusations that she was a Chinese citizen who illegally acquired Filipino citizenship, which allowed her to run for public office.
Based on Shiela Guo’s statement during a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Ty indicated that the group likely left the Philippines through Luzon rather than Mindanao, as they traveled three to four hours from Tarlac to an unidentified location before boarding a boat.
Investigators are exploring possible exit points in Pangasinan, Zambales, and La Union, among other locations.
Ty also mentioned that Shiela’s claim of not being the sister of the dismissed mayor might be valid, given that their Chinese names differ.
According to the most recent information, DOJ officials believe that former Mayor Alice Guo is in Jakarta, Indonesia, while her brother, Wesley, is in Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Senate is expected to continue its investigation into former Mayor Guo, as stated by Senate President Francis Escudero.
“How can we terminate it when Mayor Guo hasn’t been found?” Escudero remarked. “Hindi pa terminated po yun.”
Escudero also anticipated that a complaint might be filed against Guo’s notary public, Elmer Galicia.