Alice Guo confirms leaving PH by yacht

Metro Manila, Philippines – A former mayor at the center of a Senate hearing on illegal offshore gaming confirmed in an inquiry on Monday, Sept. 9, that she fled the country via a white yacht.

Grilled by lawmakers about her escape, Alice Guo said the vessel left a port in Metro Manila but refused to disclose details.

The ex-mayor said she doesn’t know the yacht owner.

“Alam ko lang po kulay puti kung hindi po ako nagkakamali. Wala po akong nakitang number, parang may mga wings po,” said Guo as she described the vessel.

[Translation: The yacht is colored white if I’m not mistaken. I didn’t see the vessel number, it looked like there were wings.]

Guo said they left port at night. She confirmed leaving the country in July but did not tell the exact date.

Alice’s statements do not jibe with those of her supposed sister Sheila, who told the Senate that they left the country by a small boat from an unknown location. She said it took late-night land travels and three boat transfers to exit the country.

Meanwhile, Guo denied the involvement of any public official in her exit.

She, however, said a foreign national arranged her travel outside the country. Guo refused to publicly name who facilitated the ride and instead asked lawmakers to have it written on a piece of paper.

The Senate panel cited Guo in contempt again for refusing to answer questions during the hearing.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, committee chairperson, later clarified Guo will remain in police custody until she posts bail for her graft and corruption charges.