MANILA: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has vowed to take decisive action against those responsible for the covert departure of former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, who is under investigation for alleged links to Chinese criminal syndicates.

In a firm statement on August 21, President Marcos declared, “Let me be clear: Heads will roll.” His comments followed revelations from a Philippine Senate probe that Guo, also known as Chinese national Guo Hua Ping, had managed to leave the country despite an immigration lookout bulletin issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to monitor her movements.

Guo, who faces a Senate arrest warrant for avoiding hearings related to her alleged involvement with a now-shuttered online casino accused of scamming and other criminal activities, was reportedly seen traveling through Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. The online casino, which was closed by the government in March, operated on land partly owned by Guo in Bamban, Tarlac province, located about 99 kilometers north of Manila.

Senator Risa Hontiveros disclosed on August 19 that immigration documents showed Guo arrived in Malaysia on July 18 and proceeded to Singapore on July 21. Subsequently, Guo was reported to have traveled by ferry from Singapore to Indonesia on August 18. The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has confirmed these findings and is exploring options for Guo’s return through extradition or an Interpol red notice. The Philippines has an extradition treaty with Indonesia, and all four countries involved are Interpol members.

Despite Guo’s apparent escape, her lawyer maintains that she has not left the country. In response, President Marcos has ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs to cancel Guo’s passport. Guo had reportedly appeared before a Bulacan-based lawyer on August 14 to notarize her counter-affidavit related to a trafficking case filed by the DOJ. However, preliminary hearings have yet to produce a court-issued arrest warrant.

President Marcos criticized the situation as exposing corruption within the Philippine justice system and announced a full-scale investigation into how Guo managed to evade detection. “We will expose the culprits who have betrayed the people’s trust and aided in her flight,” he asserted.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) in the Philippines has faced criticism for alleged corruption and involvement in illegal activities. Senator Win Gatchalian questioned how Guo could have escaped undetected, suggesting that immigration officials might have assisted in her exit. BI spokeswoman Dana Sandoval speculated that Guo might have used a private plane or sea route to avoid standard immigration checks.

The public outrage over Guo’s escape has led many Filipinos to criticize immigration officials on social media. The case has intensified scrutiny of the online casino industry in the Philippines, particularly the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), which have been linked to criminal activities including human trafficking and job scams.

In response to the scandal, President Marcos banned POGOs on July 22 and imposed a freeze on Guo’s assets, including 90 bank accounts, real estate properties, vehicles, and a helicopter. Guo, who maintains her innocence and claims to be a natural-born Philippine citizen, has denied all allegations. She is currently seeking to nullify the Senate subpoena through the Philippine Supreme Court, which has yet to issue a ruling on the matter.