Both Cassandra Li Ong and Sheila Guo were arrested as the Philippine government ordered the cancellation of the passports of Batam Mayor Alice Guo and her relatives due to allegations of being a Chinese spy.
Local authorities intercepted the pair at an airport terminal in Indonesia and transported them back to the Philippines after completing the necessary paperwork.
Further, the official order came after Alice Guo’s suspicious working modality as the mayor of Batam, Indonesia, when she ran scamming centers disguised as casinos in her locality.
Huli pero ‘di kulong!
— Politiko (@Politiko_Ph) August 22, 2024
Ibinahagi ni Sen. Raffy Tulfo ang mga larawan Nina Cassandra Li Ong ng Lucky South 99 POGO at Sheila Guo, ang kapatid ni dating Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, na nahuli sa isang mall sa Riau, Indonesia noong August 20. pic.twitter.com/qYM6ALO4Lz
Cassandra Ong represented the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga, which the legal team raided for alleged illegal activities earlier this year. Alice also faced charges related to the raid location.
On the other hand, Sheila Guo faced the consequences of her sister’s activities as the government had released an arrest warrant for Alice’s family and close relatives.
As the procedure began, speculations arose that Cassandra Ong and Sheila Guo might have illegally received their passports, which would have raised suspicion if it had been done through an official method.
Cassandra Ong and Shiela’s escape helped the police confirm that Alice was hiding in Indonesia!
Right after detaining Cassandra and Shiela, the authorities seized their personal belongings and prepared to cancel their passports.
However, the decision ruled that such action would make it difficult for the police to transport them to the Philippines as advisor Remulla said, “How can you make them travel back to the country? You’ll have to issue a travel document which should be an admission that they’re Filipino citizens.“
LOOK: Heavy security in NAIA terminal 1, where Cassandra Ong and Alice Guo's sister, Sheila, are expected to arrive from Indonesia.
— Jairo Bolledo (@jairojourno) August 22, 2024
The two, who were put under custody by Indonesian immigration authorities, are set to arrive back in the country at around 5 pm. @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/vDRvH8fUM0
Likewise, Senator Risa Hontiveros revealed that Alice had escaped the country using a Philippine passport and was reportedly hiding in Indonesia. At the same time, the police launched a man-hunt warrant due to her month-long absence.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued a public statement and expressed, “Heads will roll…There is no room in this government for anyone who places personal interest above serving the Filipino people with honor, integrity, and justice.“
The authorities are tracking her route to identify the person facilitating her travels. Before landing in Indonesia, she had visited at least three Southeast Asian countries.
Additional Information
- In June 2024, the Department of the Internal Local Government suspended Alice Guo from her role as mayor for up to six months after filing charges against her for connections with POGO.
- If authorities prove Alice is a Chinese citizen, she won’t be eligible to serve as mayor since only Filipino citizens can hold office.
- The investigation unit believes the mayor left the country without passing through immigration authorities.
