The arrest of former Mayor Alice Guo in Indonesia has reignited the hope of numerous Filipinos that justice can be served in the Philippines. Guo, a former town Mayor of Bamban in Tarlac, was able to slip off the country’s hands despite allegations of her purported involvement in offshore Philippine gaming illegal activities at her town and after questions loomed on her real identity.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has revealed that fingerprint comparisons between former Mayor Alice Guo and Guo Hua Ping, a Chinese national, indicate that they are the same person. Records show that Guo Hua Ping entered the Philippines in 2003.

Following confirmation that Alice Guo had left the country, her alleged sister, Shiela Guo, along with Cassandra Li Ong—who also faces accusations of involvement in illegal POGO operations—were detained in Indonesia. Both were subsequently deported to the Philippines by Indonesian authorities. Shiela Guo is currently in the custody of the Senate, while Cassandra Li Ong has been turned over to the House of Representatives.

Shiela Guo has denied that Alice is her sister. She claims that she, Alice, and a man named Wesley fled the Philippines on a small boat, transferring to two more boats before reaching Malaysia.

Reportedly, Alice Guo traveled to Singapore before going to Indonesia and was later arrested in Jakarta. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian previously had informed ASEAN ambassadors about the case of the ex-Mayor. In a video message on social media, President Bongbong Marcos recently commented on the arrest of Alice Guo. He said in his message that she was captured and congratulated the law enforcement authorities on a job well done. President Marcos, on the other hand, did extend appreciation to the Indonesian government for the cooperation given in effecting the arrest. Wrapping up his message, he had stern words of warning for anyone trying to evade justice.