The Department of Justice (DOJ) chief expressed his doubts about the veracity of the account embattled former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo had given of her international getaway, calling it out as “very flimsy” and speculating that she had traveled via plane at some point.
“Well we’re still trying to have the Bureau of Immigration (BI) look at all the flight records, and of course, the Coast Guard will have to review also what vessels went out in that direction on that day,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said in a press briefing held on Wednesday, September 11. “Pero (However,) judging from hearings of the Senate, I don’t think she’s telling the truth.”
He said Guo’s story didn’t convince him as it is difficult to cross the sea.
“I think that more questions than answers (was) given by Alice Guo saying that she took a yacht, a big ship, and another boat later on … It does not really convince me—or many of us—that those are plausible ways of escaping from the country. Hindi ganoon kagaling magbiyahe ng barko at bangka at yate ng ganoon ganoon lang (It is not easy to travel by ship and boat and yacht just like that),” Remulla stated.
“I would say it's a very flimsy way to carry a story of escape,” he declared.
The secretary was also firm that Guo and her companions were flown in a plane when fleeing the country.
Guo claimed under oath before the Senate hearing on Monday that she had gotten into a white yacht before 10 PM and then transferred to a ship after some hours. She was placed in a room on the ship, where she stayed for around four days. Afterwards, she recounted riding a small boat, which took her the rest of the way to Malaysia.
