DFA CANCELS ALICE GUO’S PH PASSPORT

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has canceled the Philippine passport of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo.

According to the DFA, the passport was “fraudulently acquired” after confirming that her biometrics matched that of a certain Chinese national “Guo Hua Ping.”

According to Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza, the cancellation took effect on Sept. 30, 2024.

“Upon receipt on September 18, 2024 from the Department of Justice (DOJ) of the certification issued by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) dated August  24, 2024 that the biometrics of Alice Leal Guo in the passport database match the biometrics of Guo Hua Ping in NBI files, the DFA canceled the Philippine passport issued under the identity of Alice Leal Guo,” Daza on Friday said.

Daza said the cancelation was by virtue of Section 10 (b) (4) of the New Philippine Passport Law, which allows the agency to cancel a passport if it was “acquired fraudulently, tampered with, or issued erroneously”.

She stressed that the DFA enforces a “zero tolerance policy for unscrupulous individuals” circumventing the Philippine passport application and issuance procedures.

The Office of the President previously instructed Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo to take “appropriate action” for the cancellation of Guo’s passport after she fled the country for Indonesia.

Guo is being investigated by the senators over her  alleged involvement in illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) activities in Bamban, Tarlac.

Meanwhile, Guo’s lawyer revealed that her client will file a certificate of candidacy for reelection as Bamban mayor.