Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday (July 17) raised the possibility that suspended Bamban (Tarlac) Mayor Alice Guo has already left the country.



Gatchalian said that while the Bureau of Immigration has no records that the embattled local government executive has escaped, there is the possibility that Guo did not pass through regular departure routes to leave.


The senator said Guo is the holder of a Philippine passport under her name and a Chinese passport under the name of Guo Hua Ping, which is reportedly her true identity.



“Sa mga impormasyon namin sa Bureau of Immigration ay nandito pa siya dahil nag-check kami kung si Guo Hua Ping ay umalis na ng Pilipinas, wala naman silang nakitang ganoong record so far,” Gatchalian told Radyo 630.



“So kung dadaan siya sa ating mga airport, at dadaan siya sa seaport, made-detech siya. Pero alam naman natin na meron pang ibang paraan para makatakas,” he added.



Guo has been ordered arrested by the Senate for her continued failure to show up in hearings on a legislative probe into alleged illegal POGO operations in the country.



Her legal counsel Stephen David has insisted his client is still in the country and that she will appear in the next scheduled hearing of the Senate Committee on Women, Family Relations and Children chaired by Sen. Risa Hontiveros .



However, David admitted that the assurance was made to him by Guo following a telephone conversation with her.



“We were able to talk for more than one hour. Of course, my advice to her (was to surrender) as she cannot hide forever,” the lawyer said.



Guo has been suspended as Bamban mayor following the filing of criminal charges against her in connection with her alleged links with the POGO operations