MANILA — Former Mayor Alice Guo, her “sister” Shiela, and other co-accused in 87 counts of money laundering could face a combined prison sentence ranging from 609 to 1,218 years, according to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC). Each count carries a penalty of seven to 14 years imprisonment.
During the Senate Subcommittee on Justice and Human Rights hearing, senators urged Shiela to disclose the full truth about their escape, but she maintained her previous account.
Shiela recounted that she, Alice, and their brother Wesley traveled by van from their farm in Bamban, Tarlac, to an undisclosed pier, passing through the Balintawak tollgate and Skyway.
“So pa-south. So papunta Batangas, Southern Luzon,” Senator Risa Hontiveros deduced during the hearing.
From there, the group allegedly took a boat to Sabah, Malaysia. However, Hontiveros presented evidence that the group first arrived in Kuala Lumpur, not Sabah.
“May tatak passport mo, you entered Sabah. Ang problema, di nagma-match ang stamp sa totoong dapat na stamp kung Sabah talaga ang baba niyo. According to these stamps, July 18, or ang basa ng iba, July 19 kayo pumasok ng Malaysia pero via Kuala Lumpur,” Hontiveros said. “Samakatuwid nauna ka dapat sa Kuala Lumpur kaysa sa Sabah.”
The committee also gathered information suggesting the group first went to Bali, Indonesia, before heading to Kuala Lumpur. Hontiveros pointed out the inconsistencies in the group’s travel records, including alleged fake passport stamps.
Shiela denied any knowledge of passing through Bali. After spending a few days in Malaysia, she said they flew to Singapore, where they met Alice’s father, Jian Zhong Guo, and his girlfriend, Lin Wen Yi, Shiela’s aunt.
During the hearing, some senators expressed frustration with Shiela’s responses.
“Klarong-klaro, Shiela. Klarong-klaro na may tinatago ka,” Senator Joel Villanueva said. “Gusto ka naming tulungan kung magsasabi ka ng totoo… Di mo kami puwedeng bolahin na sasabihin mo wala kang alam lahat.”