24-8-2024 (MANILA) Former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, currently on the run from Philippine authorities, is believed to be attempting to enter the infamous ‘Golden Triangle’, according to a high-ranking official involved in the investigation. This development comes just days after the arrest of Guo’s associates in Indonesia.
Winston Casio, spokesperson for the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), revealed in a statement on Saturday that intelligence suggests Guo is heading towards the crime-ridden region spanning parts of Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos. “We have strong reason to believe that she is trying to gain entry into the Golden Triangle. The Guo family has established business interests in Cambodia,” Casio explained.
The official further elaborated on the suspected criminal connections, stating, “They are part of a larger criminal organisation. The Guo family is affiliated with the Fujian Gang, which has ties to the Golden Triangle triad.”
Investigations have traced Guo’s movements since her last confirmed sighting in the Philippines on 14 July at a resort on the country’s westernmost tip. Sources reported seeing her board a speedboat, presumably to begin her escape. From there, she is believed to have flown from Bali to Kuala Lumpur on 17 July, then on to Singapore where she remained for approximately a month before travelling to Batam, an Indonesian industrial hub.
Casio also mentioned that Guo’s brother, Wesley, had “attempted to leave Batam for Hong Kong,” though Chinese officials have yet to confirm his arrival in the territory. As of now, Alice Guo is thought to still be in Batam.
The PAOCC spokesperson emphasised that China would not be a viable destination for Guo. “She will definitely not go to China. She stands accused of serious crimes related to illegal gambling,” he said, noting China’s stringent stance on gambling-related offences.
When questioned about the possibility of apprehending Guo should she successfully enter the Golden Triangle, Casio acknowledged the challenges. “It depends on which part of the Golden Triangle she would enter… These countries have very porous borders,” he admitted. “We’re focusing on preventing that scenario from unfolding.”
Complicating matters, Philippine authorities are currently unable to arrest Guo due to the absence of an official warrant. “We have no red notice because there is no warrant of arrest for her yet. The cases against Alice Guo are still pending in the Department of Justice,” Casio explained.
In an unexpected twist, the PAOCC has cautioned against revoking Guo’s passport or Filipino nationality. Casio warned that such actions could inadvertently grant her protection under United Nations statutes. “If they become stateless, it could create significant problems for us. We must be cautious about cancelling their passports,” he advised.
The 1954 United Nations Convention on Statelessness provides certain rights to stateless individuals, including identity documentation and administrative assistance. This could potentially complicate efforts to bring Guo to justice in the Philippines.
“Our primary goal is to see them incarcerated in the Philippines to answer for their crimes in the country,” Casio affirmed. “We should maintain their Filipino status for now, imprison them, and only then consider cancelling their passports.”
