Gov’t personnel who helped dismissed Bamban Mayor Guo escape to be held accountable

Transcript

00:00President Ferdinand R. Marcus Jr. alluded that someone from government could be held accountable for assisting dismissed Bamban Mayor Goua

00:07from slipping out of the country. The chief executive says that in such a scenario

00:12corruption in government becomes a huge stumbling block in the attainment of justice, which

00:17unfortunately causes the public to lose faith in the agency's task to uphold and enforce the law. Alan Francisco has the full report.

00:25The heads of government authorities and personnel who assisted in the escape of dismissed Bamban Tarlac Mayor Alice Goua will roll.

00:34This was emphasized by President Ferdinand R. Marcus Jr. following reports the former mayor left the Philippines.

00:41Goua reportedly first went to Singapore and is now in Indonesia.

00:45According to President Marcos, Goua's sneaky departure reveals how corruption undermines the justice system which leads the public losing faith.

00:53The president said his administration has no choice but to expose those behind Goua's escape.

00:59Investigations are already underway and those responsible will definitely held accountable under the law.

01:05President Marcos added that there is no place in government for anyone who prioritizes personal interest over serving the people with honor,

01:12integrity, and justice.

01:14Prior to this, the office of the president ordered the Department of Justice and the Department of Foreign Affairs to cancel the Philippine

01:21passports of Alice Goua, her family, and a woman associated with the Philippine online gaming operator, or POGO.

01:28According to a memorandum dated August 20, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Berzamin,

01:33addressed to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Rimulya and DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo,

01:38the office of the president directs them to oversee the cancellation of Goua's passport,

01:43along with the passports of her relatives Wesley Leal Goua, Sheila Leal Goua, and POGO representative Catherine Cassandra Leong.

01:51Executive Secretary Berzamin referred to Republic Act Number 11983, or the Philippine Passport Act,

01:57which states that a basis for passport cancellation is the holder or owner being a fugitive from justice.

02:03Berzamin also mentioned the arrest warrants against Goua and her family,

02:07following their refusal to attend repeated invitations to hearings related to illegal POGO activities in the country.

02:14Additionally, the Executive Secretary said there are criminal complaints against Goua on human trafficking.

02:20Other cases are also being prepared against the former mayor due to her alleged involvement in POGO operations.

02:26Ong, who met with Goua in Singapore, had earlier been cited in contempt by the House of Representatives for also failing to attend the hearings.