Philippine Senate President Chiz Escudero on Wednesday praised President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s swift action regarding the escape of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, while expressing skepticism about Guo’s claims of acting alone.
“I commend President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. for acting decisively and with dispatch with respect to his promise to the nation that ‘heads will roll’ in connection with the embarrassing escape of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo,” Escudero said.
The Senate president cast doubt on Guo’s assertion that no other Filipinos aided her escape.
“I do not believe Alice Guo’s assertion that no other Filipino helped her, for I am of the belief that there were other personalities, possibly officials in government other than the Bureau of Immigration, who helped her,” Escudero stated.
He called for accountability for all involved parties, including non-Filipino actors. “That they are allegedly ‘not here’ should not stop us from trying to get them, especially Alice Guo’s financiers and bosses,” he added.
Escudero acknowledged potential threats to Guo’s life but noted, “I tend to believe that there are credible threats to her life, but it would depend on the extent of her revelations and if she will tell the whole truth.”
Addressing a legal issue raised by Senator Tolentino, Escudero deferred to the courts, saying, “It’s for the courts to decide, given the pendency of the case thereat, and for Alice Guo’s lawyers to raise as part of her defense.”
The Senate president also questioned why Guo’s lawyers haven’t raised this issue and why she hasn’t posted bail, suggesting, “It’s as if Alice wanted, or is at least in agreement, for this case to be filed against her.”
