FILE PHOTO: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. says he now has a “very good idea” who to fire in the Bureau of Immigration (BI) over the escape of Alice Guo and her party. MALACAÑANG FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. now has a “very good idea” who could be fired at the Bureau of Immigration (BI) over the escape of Alice Guo and her group.
On the sidelines of a swearing-in ceremony for new leaders of various media groups on Tuesday, Marcos was asked whose heads should roll in connection with the secret departure of Guo and others, to which he replied:
“Very very good idea, I have a very good idea.”
When asked whether the staff were from the BI, he said: “From the BI, yes.”
READ: Marcos on Alice Guo’s departure: “Heads will roll”
Marcos did not name any specific names, noting that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is still in the “final stages” of a “very thorough investigation” aimed at identifying those who helped Guo and others leave the country last month while the government investigates them and their ties to Philippine offshore gambling operators.
“That’s what the final part of this investigation is about – how far, how deep does it go, is there just one person involved or are there several, is it a syndicate? That’s what we’re looking for,” the president said.
“There are no sacred cows,” he added.
Marcos remained in the dark
Marcos also confirmed Senator Sherwin Gatchalian’s claim that the BI did not inform the President of Guo’s departure in July.
READ: Gatchalian: BI knew about Guo’s departure and left Marcos in the dark
“Oh yes, definitely,” Marcos said when asked if the BI had intentionally kept him in the dark about Guo’s escape.
Senator Risa Hontiveros was the first to announce on July 18 that Guo had already left the Philippines. The BI eventually confirmed Hontiveros’ revelations.
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However, Gatchalian revealed that immigration authorities already knew that Guo and her three siblings had left the country even before Hontiveros recounted Guo and others’ escape in July in her speech to the Senate on August 19.
Gatchalian even said that Marcos was “left in the dark” by the BI.
