MANILA, Philippines – Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo has been arrested in the Greater Jakarta metropolitan area of Indonesia, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Wednesday, September 4.

NBI Director Jimmy Santiago confirmed to Rappler that Guo is now under the custody of Indonesian authorities.

Guo was apprehended at 11:58 pm in Tangerang City, part of the Greater Jakarta area, also known as Jabodetabek, on September 3, Tuesday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said. 

“This development has been verified by our counterparts in Immigration, who confirmed that Guo is currently under the custody of the Indonesian Police at Jatanras Mabes Polri,” said DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano.

“Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco is currently coordinating with the Indonesian immigration authorities for her possible return to the Philippines at the soonest possible time,” said Gilbert Cruz, chief of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).

“Kung makuha namin sila, matapos ang BI, matapos sa amin, we will immediately turn her over to the Senate,” said Santiago who added the implementation of the plans would still have to depend on the weather.

(If we get her, after the Bureau of Immigration, after us, we will immediately turn her over to the Senate)

There are currently no court-issued warrants of arrest out for Guo, just a warrant from the Senate based on contempt. It is likely that Indonesian immigration authorities apprehended Guo for immigration violations, or offenses related to disobedience or obstruction of justice, like what happened to her sister Shiela Guo, and the family’s alleged close confidante Cassandra Ong.

There are no exact details as of writing when Guo can be brought to the Philippines. Senator Risa Hontiveros said the Senate wants Guo present in their hearing on Thursday afternoon, September 5.

“I’m really hoping makaharap na siya bukas. So, tinatarget namin (I’m really hoping she can appear tomorrow. So that’s what we’re targeting). But we can only target so much,” she said.

Hontiveros said the Senate inquiry may be able to wrap up in four more hearings, but they’re aiming to establish a “bigger fish.”

“Maaaring hindi siya yung pinakamataas pa. Maaaring hindi pa siya yung pinakamalaking isda dito. At yun yung gustong tumbukin ng Committee on Women bilang bahagi ng pag-wrap-up ng kabuuang apat na taon nang imbestigasyon laban sa POGOs,” said Hontiveros.

(It’s possible she’s not the biggest fish here. And that’s what we want to find out in the Committee on Women as part of our wrapping up four years of POGO investigation.)

Guo deported today, says Marcos

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the Indonesian government has been on top of the Guo situation ever since Shiela Guo and Ong were arrested on August 22.

“We’re thinking of sending our prosecutors there [Indonesia],” said Remulla, adding that Guo is undergoing tactical interrogation in Indonesia.

Senior NBI operatives will definitely be sent there too, Remulla said.

Guo can be returned to the Philippines within the day, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told reporters. “(The timing) depends on the police investigation results,” Jakarta’s law minister, Supratman Andi Agtas, told Reuters.

Because she was arrested without a warrant, Guo will be subjected to an inquest proceeding to give the Philippine government basis to hold her in custody. Her lawyers will likely invoke her rights against custodial investigation, which requires that she be charged within 36 hours, otherwise the continued detention can be invalidated.

Remulla shrugged these off, saying that Guo’s legal situation is “very complicated” as she faces multiple investigations in the legislative, executive, judiciary, “even in constitutional commissions,” referring to the Commission on Elections.

“Kaya kung merong abugadong magmamarunong diyan, marami silang sasabihin. Pero sasabihin nating hindi tama ang naging diskarte ni Alice Guo sa buhay niya, unang una, yung passport niya may problema tayo diyan, hindi lang natin kina-cancel kasi hindi kailangan pa,” said Remulla.

(So any lawyer who would act smart, and say many things, I will say that Alice Guo miscalculated her moves. First of all, her passport has problems, although we are not canceling it.) 

Alice Guo faces two complaints at the Department of Justice (DOJ), one for qualified human trafficking, and another for money laundering, both related to her incorporation of a leasing company called Baofu. Evidence submitted by several agencies to the DOJ claim Guo never divested from Baofu, and that the company was a front for the illegal activities of Hong Sheng/Zun Yuan, the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) that leased it.

Guo, at least according to her sister Shiela, fled the Philippines by boat around July 14, and reached Sabah, Malaysia on July 18. Several authorities have expressed doubt about the veracity of Shiela Guo’s testimony.

This is a developing news. Refresh this page for updates. – With reports from Reuters/Rappler.com