Guo in Indonesia; Palace orders passport canceled

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Tuesday ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Justice to cancel the Philippine passports of dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo and those of her siblings.

In a memorandum dated Aug. 20 addressed to Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin directed the two agencies to take “appropriate action” to cancel the passports of Guo and her siblings Wesley Leal Guo and Sheila Leal Guo.

The memo also covers Katherine Cassandra Li Ong, the authorized representative of the Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) raided in Porac, Pampanga.

“Given the foregoing and in the interest of justice, the Office hereby directs the appropriate action be taken for the cancellation of the Philippine passports of Guo, her family and Ong,” Bersamin said.

Bersamin also chairs the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).

His order came after Sen. Risa Hontiveros bared on Monday that Guo, also identified as Chinese national Guo Hua Ping, had already left the country using her Philippine passport.

According to reports, the 33-year-old Guo left the Philippines and entered Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on July 18. She then flew, along with her siblings Sheila and Wesley, to Singapore on July 21 and transferred to Indonesia last Aug. 18.

She reportedly met up with her parents Lin Wen Yi and Guo Jian Zhong in Singapore.

“It is worthy to note that currently, the Senate issued arrest warrants against Guo and her family for unduly refusing to appear, despite due notices, its probe into the illegal activities of POGOs,” Bersamin said.

Bersamin said a criminal complaint was filed against the dismissed mayor for qualified trafficking, adding that “other cases” are also being prepared for her alleged involvement in POGO operations.

Bersamin said Ong, one of the individuals whom Guo met in Singapore, was also cited in contempt by the House of Representatives for her failure to attend hearings.

Republic Act 11983 or the “New Philippine Passport Act” gives the DFA secretary the power to cancel a passport “in the interest of national security,” according to