Mayor’s sister, companion face obstruction complaint

MANILA, Philippines — Days after their arrest in Indonesia and repatriation to Manila, an incorporator of online gaming operator Lucky South 99 and a sister of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo underwent inquest proceedings before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Special Task Force Division for obstruction of justice and harboring a fugitive.

Cassandra Li Ong, incorporator of Lucky South 99, and Sheila Leal Guo were arrested last Aug. 20 by Indonesian immigration authorities at the Mega Mall Batam Centre, in Riau, Indonesia.

The two arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport via Philippine Airlines Flight PR 540 from Jakarta, Indonesia on Thursday.

Ong is also being investigated by the Senate for her involvement in Lucky South 99, a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) in Porac, Pampanga raided weeks ago for illegal and criminal activities.

The two are believed to have been with the dismissed mayor when she left the country on July 18.

The NBI also confirmed yesterday that Sheila is actually a Chinese national named Zhang Mier.

A fingerprint analysis conducted by the NBI and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) matched Guo’s fingerprints with those of Zhang Mier.

NBI director Jaime Santiago said at a press briefing that the fingerprint analysis confirmed that “the Chinese national Zhang Mier and Sheila Leal Guo are one and the same person.”

He also said Guo would be charged with violating the Philippine Passport Act, as her passport was allegedly fraudulently obtained.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said Sheila’s use of  fraudulently issued passport would be part of the immigration violation charges to be leveled against her.

She underwent inquest for the offense Thursday night at the bureau’s headquarters in Manila. The BI said it is preparing deportation proceedings against Sheila.

“We charged her with misrepresentation as a Filipino citizen, fraudulently acquiring a Philippine passport,” Tansingco said at a briefing yesterday.

Sheila’s being a Chinese passport holder was only discovered after her arrest in Indonesia, according to Tansingco.

Sheila and Ong were handed over to the NBI after spending several hours at the BI.

Invest