Seven co-accused in the former mayor of Bamban Alice Guo’s case have turned themselves into the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) following the issuance of an arrest warrant for human trafficking by the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC).
During a press conference held on Monday, September 23, NBI Director Jamie Santiago said that two of Guo’s co-accused approached the task force in Bamban, while five of them voluntarily turned themselves in at the bureau’s Central Luzon Office.
At a press conference, NBI Director Jaime Santiago said five voluntarily surrendered to the NBI Central Luzon while two surrendered to the NBI Task Force Alice Guo.
The individuals who surrendered to the NBI are Juan Alpas, Rachelle Carreon, Jamielyn Santos Cruz, Rowena Evangelista, Thelma Laranan, Roderick Pujante, and Rita Yturralde.
“It appears that they are the persons responsible for the corporations that we can say are all bogus corporations of Alice Guo… We will let the court decide whether to appreciate their testimonies,” Santiago said.
“Sila ang lumalabas na mga responsible doon sa Hongsheng incorporators at sa Zun Yuan incorporators. Lahat ito ay mga masasabi nating mga bogus corporation ni Alice Guo,” Santiago added.
The other respondents, who are Chinese nationals, are still at large, Santiago said.
Meanwhile, Santiago said the NBI will wait for a commitment order from the Pasig court.
“As far as these accused are concerned, the arrest warrants will be returned to the Pasig court and we will wait for the commitment order that will be issued by the Pasig court kung saan sila dadalhin,” Santiago said.
Clearing names
Meanwhile, the co-accused said they decided to surface to clear their names.
Some of those who surrendered claimed they did not personally know Guo. They said they were asked by Jeremy Santos, husband of Patty Santos who was Guo’s chief of staff when she was the Bamban mayor, to sign a certificate of incorporation. (TCSP)
