The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is still working with relevant agencies on Malacañang's order to cancel the passport of dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said Friday.
The Office of the President previously issued a memorandum directing Manalo and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to take “appropriate action” for the cancellation of the passports of Guo, Wesley Guo, and the recently deported Sheila Guo and Katherine Cassandra Li Ong "in the interest of justice" following reports that she fled the country.
Asked if there is a timeline set, Manalo said: “Hard to say but we are working with the DOJ (Department of Justice)”.
According to Section 10 of the New Philippine Passport Act, the DFA can only cancel a passport upon a court order when the holder has been convicted of a criminal offense, is a fugitive from justice, or if he/she is a suspected terrorist.
The DFA can also cancel a passport if it was acquired fraudulently, tampered with, or issued erroneously.
Guo is facing criminal complaints for qualified trafficking while other cases are being prepared over her alleged involvement in illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) activities.
Alice Guo still in Indonesia
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said the dismissed mayor is still in Indonesia.
"Sa tracking po ng ating foreign counterparts doon, confirmed po nasa Indonesia pa po. Wala pa pong attempts ng paglipat or pag-transfer sa ibang bansa itong si former Mayor Alice Guo (Based on the tracking of our foreign counterparts there, confirmed she is still in Indonesia. There are no attempts yet by former Mayor Alice Guo to move or transfer to another country)," BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said in a television interview.
Sandoval said an investigation is underway to track the route possibly taken by the dismissed mayor in fleeing the Philippines.
“Maaasahan natin na sa mga susunod na linggo ay lalabas ang resulta ng imbestigasyon. Sa ngayon ang initial information ay sa Sabah, Malaysia sila nagpunta. Kailangan pa namin ng backtracking information at para malaman din (We expect the results of the investigation to come out in the coming weeks. For now, our initial information shows they went to Sabah, Malaysia. We need backtracking information and to identify) who are involved in the departure of these people,” the BI official added.
Sandoval said they are also looking into reports that Guo's group supposedly departed via a private aircraft.
She, however, refused to elaborate "pending confirmation" of this information.
Based on initial information received by the BI, Guo left for Malaysia on July 19, arrived in Singapore on July 21, and traveled to Indonesia on Aug. 18.
Guo's sister Shiela and Ong were sent back to the Philippines on Thursday after being intercepted by Indonesian authorities on Aug. 20. (PNA)
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