DILG coordinating with int'l agencies for Wesley Guo's return to PH: Abalos | ABS-CBN

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DILG coordinating with int'l agencies for Wesley Guo's return to PH: Abalos

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

 | 

Updated Sep 07, 2024 07:01 PM PHT

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Wesley Leal Guo's passport. HandoutWesley Leal Guo's passport. Handout

MANILA -- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Saturday said it is coordinating with its counterparts from several Southeast Asian countries for the return of gambling executive Wesley Guo in the Philippines.

Wesley's lawyer earlier said that their camp is talking to the government to facilitate his surrender after the arrest of his sister, dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo earlier this week.

"Inaayos na din namin yan," DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. told reporters when asked about Wesley's surrender.

"It came from him (Wesley). There are some people handling it," he said.

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Abalos declined to give more details about Wesley's return to the Philippines, but noted that the DILG is coordinating with the Indonesian police and other international agencies.

"Ilang bansa din ang minonitor natin dito. We have to really use international agencies here," the DILG chief said.

"Maganda at solid ang ating relasyon sa ibang bansa lalo na sa ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)," he said.

"Maliit lang ang iniikutan niya, mahuhuli at mahuhuli siya."

The Guo siblings and gambling hub representative Cassandra Ong have been deliberately traveling to different countries after they fled the Philippines amid a crackdown on illegal gambling operations in Pampanga and Tarlac.

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Authorities may arrest Wesley on the basis of his illegal departure from the Philippines, said Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano, spokesperson of the Department of Justice.

"Illegal exit is really the fastest way to get him back here," Clavano said.

"Kung law enforcement issue siya, ang process is extradition but that is a longer process and requires more resources," he said.

"Just like Alice Guo, cases are already underway," he said.

Abalos guaranteed that they can have Wesley arrested even if they only have a Senate contempt order as courts have yet to issue a warrant against the former Bamban Mayor's brother.

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"Puwede na yun," Abalos said, referring to the Senate order to detain Wesley for snubbing multiple congressional inquiries.

"Give us an inch of anything that is legal and we will make the most out of this. We are working on our counterparts abroad to do this," he said.

Alice, Wesley and Shiela Guo allegedly left the Philippines in mid-July via multiple boat rides from an unidentified location in the country to Sabah, before they traveled to Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia.

Last week, Shiela was arrested with Ong in Batam, Indonesia before they boarded a ferry back to Singapore, while Alice was arrested in Jakarta earlier this week.

Wesley was last seen attempting to depart for Hong Kong, but authorities have yet to disclose his current location.

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"We are asking on Wesley, sumurrender ka na din… We would just make sure na walang papatay sa iyo," Abalos said.

Meanwhile, the DILG and the DOJ said they have yet to piece together how the Guo sibling were able to flee the Philippines undetected by any Immigration post in the country.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier vowed to sack officials who would be found responsible for their escape.

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