HOUSE leaders on Wednesday expressed their strong support for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s statement on the escape of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, a key figure linked to illegal activities involving Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), and echoed his call for accountability among those responsible for her departure.
President Marcos has vowed that “heads will roll” following Guo’s escape, promising to expose and hold accountable those who betrayed the public’s trust, amid growing concerns about how she managed to leave the country despite ongoing investigations into her activities.
House Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin supported the President’s stance, emphasizing the importance of thoroughly investigating the circumstances surrounding Guo’s departure.
“We really support the President kasi may ongoing investigation. However, we also would like to explore if indeed it is a flight or kasi contiguous kasi ang Pilipinas din doon sa malalapit na islands. You can go to Malaysia, you can go to like nearby areas and that should be explored and I think that is also where our borders can be tightened,” Garin told a press conference.
Assistant Majority Leader and La Union 1st District Rep. Francisco Paolo Ortega V echoed Garin’s concerns and suggested additional measures to ensure Guo’s return to the Philippines.
Ortega underscored the need to consider canceling Guo’s passport to facilitate her return to the Philippines.
“At this point siguro pwede na ring i-consider ‘yung option of cancelling her passport para po maihatid po siya kung nasaan mang siyang bansa, maibalik po sa Pilipinas kasi napaka-importante po ng mga impormasyon na nalalaman niya at saka ‘yung mga problemang kailangan niyang harapin,” Ortega said.
Assistant Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong expressed frustration over Guo’s escape, calling it an insult to the country’s justice system.
“Iyong statement ni President na heads will roll, doon ako, para sa akin nakaka-insulto po ‘yun sa justice system ng ating bansa. I’m more concerned really of how she was able to fly out of the country,” Adiong said.
He emphasized the importance of holding those involved accountable, stating that anyone who assisted in Alice Guo’s escape must face the consequences, as her departure could not have happened without help from those linked to the ongoing investigation.
1-Rider Party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez, meanwhile, highlighted the broader issue of corruption within various government agencies exposed by the POGO-related investigations.
“Aside from that, I think this really highlights po yung social ills that POGO brings. We see that it’s not just isolated to the issue of whether or not this person is able to run, whether or not this person is able to evade the law, but it speaks of yung nakakasilaw po talaga yung POGO; it seems to be it is corruption manifests in whatever branch of government,” Gutierrez stated.
Adiong added that Guo’s escape is a stark reminder of how POGO operations have corrupted the system.
“Nakaka-insulto ito, offensive sa ating justice system… It’s really insulting, noh? That’s how the POGO corrupts the system,” he said.
Ortega issued a direct appeal to Guo, urging her to return and cooperate with the investigation.
“Mayor Alice Guo, if you’re listening, we call on you to return and help with the investigation. Importanteng harapin mo yung mga alegasyon at napakaimportante po nung mga impormasyon na makukuha sayo,” Ortega said.
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