BI: No immigration personnel involved in Guo exit

No immigration personnel were involved in the illegal exit of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo from the Philippines, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Tuesday.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said in a Senate justice and human rights subcommittee hearing that an initial investigation on the incident found there was no evidence linking any immigration personnel to Guo’s escape from the country in July last year.

During the legislative inquiry, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency confirmed that the most probable mode of exit was via backdoor in the southernmost part of the country.

"Actually the sister of Alice Guo pumasok siya allegedly…Sheila Guo entered, medyo malabo kasi, dun po sa KK o Kota Kinabalu… Meron po doon sa aming nakuha, medyo malabo nga lang, but nakikita doon Kinabalu. So, we presume na ang jump off point from the Philippines is Kota Kinabalu," NICA Director Ferlu Silvio said.

"Possibly, from KK then to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and there from KLIA 1 to Singapore Airport, Changi and then, nag-ferry na po sila from Singapore to Batam Indonesia… Confirmed na po yun. As to the question of how Alice Guo was able to leave the Philippines, ito po yung gaps na tinitingnan po namin," he added.

Viado said private coastlines and airstrips are not manned by the BI, and are under the monitoring of their local government units and local law enforcement agencies. However, he expressed concern on how the borders are being abused by unscrupulous individuals.

“The misuse of backdoor exits has reportedly been a tactic to evade proper inspection by authorities," said Viado in a separate press statement.

 "We commend IACAT for uniting member agencies to effectively address this national security concern,” he said. — BAP, GMA Integrated News