MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) said there is no official request from the Indonesian government for a prisoner swap for dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo.
According to Undersecretary Nicky Ty, talks about prisoner swap is just a possibility and they are hoping that Guo will be quickly send back to the Philippines.
“Wala, wala pa namang official na hiling ang Indonesia dito sa prisoner swap na napag-uusapan ng mga tao,” Ty said in an interview with DZBB AM radio on Thursday.
“Prisoner swap is only a possibility. Huwag natin pangunahan, ano? Sa ngayon umaasa pa rin tayo na madaliang mauuwi si Mayor Alice Guo,” he added.
There were reports on Wednesday that the Jakarta police has requested to exchange Guo with drug suspect Gregor Johan Haas, who is wanted in Indonesia.
Guo was apprehended by Indonesian authorities in Tangerang City early Wednesday morning. The former Mayor is currently under the custody of the Indonesian Police.
Haas, meanwhile, was arrested on May 15 in Bogo, Cebu by the Bureau of Immigration pursuant to the Red Notice issued by Interpol for drug smuggling in Indonesia.
“May mga undesirable aliens sa kanya-kanyang bansa, puwedeng i-deport ito, ‘no, sa kanilang pinanggalingan o sa kanilang bansa man… Gusto natin ituring siyang undesirable alien ng Indonesia tulad sa ginawa nila kay Shiela (Guo) at Cassandra Ong at madalian ibalik sa Pilipinas,” Ty said.
Bureau of Immigration (BI), meanwhile, they have not received any information about the reported request of Indonesia for prisoner exchange between Guo and Haas.
“Wala po. Kasi ‘yung regular process po if there is a deportation proceeding, ‘yung individual ang tinitignan natin,” BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said.
“We’re hoping that the reported prisoner swap will not delay Alice’s deportation in the country. So far, wala akong naririnig na ganitong mga usapan on the ground,” she added.
Guo is facing a human trafficking complaint in relation to the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator hub in Bamban, as well as a money laundering complaint before the Department of Justice./PN
