Senate sergeant-at-arms assures Alice Guo's safety; ex-mayor to share detention with Shiela

Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Roberto Ancan assured Wednesday that dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo will be secured during her detention at the Senate.

"I assure the safety talaga at kung kailangan magdagdag ako ng personnel to guard them 24/7, we will do it," Ancan told reporters in an ambush interview.

(I assure her safety and if additional personnel is needed to guard them 24/7, we will do it.)  

Amid Guo's previous claims that there are death threats against her, Ancan said, "If there is a need for me to [personally] secure her, I will secure her."

According to Ancan, the former Bamban mayor will undergo the same procedure that her supposed sister, Shiela Guo, underwent when the latter was arrested in Batam City, Indonesia and later brought back to the Philippines.

Detention with Shiela

Ancan said Alice will share the same detention room with her supposed sister Shiela, who has been under Senate's custody since Aug. 26. Shiela had previously admitted in a Senate hearing that she and Alice have different biological fathers, and that she only met the latter upon arriving in the Philippines.

"As of now, we'll accommodate them sa detention kung saan na-detain si Shiela. Kasi previously naka-prepare naman talaga 'yung detention room for the family kasi magkamag-anak naman sila at saka parehas naman silang female, [even though] sinabi niya na by blood they are not related... pero puwede naman 'yon," Ancan said.

(We'll detain them in the same detention area where Shiela is being held. The detention room was already prepared for the family anyway. Since they're relatives, even though she mentioned they're not related by blood, and they are both females, then we will put them in the same room.)

To recall, the Senate has issued arrest orders in July against Alice, Shiela, their supposed brothers Wesley Guo and Seimen L. Guo, their father Jian Zhong Guo, and suspected mother Wen Yi Lin.

The relatives and lawyers of Alice and Shiela will be allowed to visit them, Ancan said.

No cellphones

Initially, Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero told reporters that Alice and Shiela would be allowed to use their cellphones, noting that the detainees are not like the regular prisoners.

However, Escudero retracted his position.

"Upon [the] request of Senator [Risa] Hontiveros. I denied it as well to them," Escudero said in a Viber message.

Ancan mentioned that Shiela had previously asked the Office of Sergeant-at-Arms to use her cellular phone, but there were no gadgets that were turned over to them by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

The Senate sergeant-at-arms also said that Shiela's request for her "workers" to visit her in detention was granted.

Guo was arrested in Indonesia early Wednesday morning, according to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).

Citing information from the NBI, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said Guo was under the custody of the Indonesian police following her arrest in Tangerang City, Indonesia.

Guo, whose real name is Guo Hua Ping according to authorities, is facing a number of legal troubles, including her alleged involvement in the operations of an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Bamban.

On the other hand, the NBI earlier reported that Shiela is a Chinese citizen name Zhang Mier, who "fraudulently acquired" acquired a Philippine passport. — VDV, GMA Integrated News