Suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Leal Guo has yet to leave the Philippines, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian announced, citing reports from the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
In a statement, Gatchalian said a "check" with the BI revealed that Guo has "no record of leaving" the Philippines through the country's airports as of Thursday, July 18.
The senator added that it was only his "theory" that Guo may have used her Chinese passport to evade immigration officers, who are now on the lookout for the suspended official.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) against Guo; a certain Guo Hua Ping; and 17 others last June 21.
An ILBO is issued by the DOJ for prudence instructing immigration officers to double check if there are any pending arrest warrants against the subjects, any violation or infraction, or to monitor their itineraries and whereabouts should they attempt to leave the country.
The Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, chaired by Senator Risa Hontiveros, has also issued a supboena against Guo, her family members, and other resource persons for their failure to attend hearings conducted by the Senate on the issue of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).
Gatchalian, meanwhile, urged Guo to surrender and respect the legal process, saying the warrant of arrest issued against does not mean that she would be indefinitely detained.
“This is in aid of legislation. This (Senate) is not a court. Our decision (to detain her) is a legislative proposal. This is not an order that she will be permanently jailed. So, she better give her testimony and tell us what she knows. Again, this is in aid of legislation,” he said.
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