MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) clarified on Thursday that the Indonesian government has not made any formal request for a prisoner exchange involving dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.
Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Ty addressed the issue in an interview with DZBB, following reports that Indonesia is seeking custody of Australian drug kingpin Gregor Haas. He explained that a prisoner swap is only a possibility.
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“Huwag natin pangunahan, ano? Sa ngayon umaasa pa rin tayo na madaliang mauuwi si Mayor Alice Guo,” Ty said during the DZBB interview.
In May, Haas was arrested in Bogo City, Cebu after Interpol issued a red notice for his alleged involvement in drug smuggling, a capital offense in Indonesia.
On Wednesday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla “confirmed” that the complications surrounding Guo's deportation were related to Jakarta's request for an exchange involving Haas.
“Yes, what I mentioned earlier,” Remulla said in a now-deleted message to reporters.
He has yet to issue a clarification on his deleted message.
As of 2:30 a.m. on Thursday, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos and Philippine National Police Chief Rommel Marbil are in Indonesia to fetch Guo a day after she was arrested.
The dismissed mayor was arrested at a hotel in Jakarta. The DOJ initially said that she was apprehended late Wednesday night, September 3, while the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission and the National Bureau of Investigation reported that she was arrested early on the morning of September 4.
She reportedly escaped the country on August 17, together with her alleged accomplices despite a hold departure order issued against them.
In a statement on Wednesday, Guo’s lawyer Stephen David said they were relieved about the safe apprehension of their client.
“This is a welcome development for us so that we can answer the allegations and issues thrown against her. As her counsel, we are deeply concerned about her health, safety and security,” David’s statement read.
“She may not know or realize it by now, but this recent event can be a good start for all her case,” it added.
Upon her return, she is expected to be placed in Senate custody. Guo will face multiple cases, including questions about her nationality and her alleged involvement in the raided Philippine offshore gaming operator hub in Bamban.