Most guilty, like Guo, cannot be state witness – DOJ

MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Saturday reiterated that dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo cannot be a state witness, at least at this time.

Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano stood by the earlier position of DOJ Secretary Crispin Remulla that Guo is "unreliable" to become a state witness since she is still the most guilty based on the investigation being conducted in connection with illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).

Clavano, however, said that they are not closing the possibility of tapping her as a state witness should more high-level individuals be linked to the investigation.

"If for example may makita tayo na mas malaking tao dito sa investigation, 'di na magiging most guilty si dating mayor Alice Guo (we find a bigger person here in the investigation, former mayor Alice Guo will no longer be the most guilty)," he said during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

"As of right now, sa ating alam dahil sa lumalabas sa (as far as we know because of what appears in the) investigation, she still stands as the most guilty, thereby disqualifying her to become a state witness."

Another factor to become a state witness is if Guo is willing to drop the names of bigger people involved.

"This is still subject to the investigation that we are going to conduct and will also depend on the willingness of former mayor Alice Guo to cooperate with law enforcement and the authorities," he added.

Guo is facing several cases before local courts, including trafficking in persons, money laundering and graft.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue also filed a tax evasion case against the dismissed mayor for her alleged failure to pay P500,000 in capital gains and documentary stamp taxes on the purported sale of her shares in Baofu Land Development Inc., the property developer that owns the land where the supposed illegal hubs are.

A freeze order was issued by the Court of Appeals against Guo's assets and those of her business partners.

She also faces a case before the Commission on Elections for misrepresentation.

After slipping out of the Philippines in July and allegedly traveling to Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, Guo was caught in Jakarta on Sept. 3, fetched by Philippine officials on Sept. 5, and arrived in the country past midnight on Sept. 6 via a private plane.

She is currently detained at the Philippine National Police custodial center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

The Tarlac lower court where a graft case was filed against her has allowed her to appear before the continuing Senate investigation on POGOs on Monday.

Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos suggested during the same forum a review of travel protocols by air and sea.

Abalos said he is curious on how the former mayor and her companions fled the country.

"Curious din talaga ako dahil sabi ko nga, dalawa iyan eh, by air or by sea. So whatever it is, we should always review the protocols that we have right now, lalo na sa dagat (I'm also really curious because as I said, there are two, by air or by sea. So whatever it is, we should always review the protocols that we have right now, especially at sea)," Abalos said.

Guo's case, he added, was similar to one of many cases involving criminals – leaving the country without being noticed. (PNA)