Philippines’ fugitive ex-mayor Alice Guo’s sister and associate apprehended in Indonesia

Indonesian authorities had detained the sister and another known associate of Alice Guo, the fugitive former Philippine mayor accused of being a Chinese spy, days after evidence was revealed indicating Guo had fled the country in July.

The Philippines’ Department of Justice confirmed on Thursday that the individuals in Indonesian custody are Cassandra Li Ong, who has been linked to a raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) in Pampanga, and Sheila Guo, the ex-mayor’s sister.

Ong’s and Sheila’s detainment comes just a few days after Philippine authorities said that Guo had arrived in Indonesia over the weekend via Batam Island, where the ex-mayor is believed to still be hiding.

Guo had been the mayor of Bamban, a town in Tarlac province. She first came under investigation after she was linked to a Pogo in Tarlac that was raided by authorities in March.

“We found the connection between Alice Guo and Cassandra Li Ong, which means that the Bamban and Porac [Pogos] are closely related,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla told reporters.

Indonesia’s Ministry of Law and Human Rights said immigration officers in Batam had flagged the two as “suspicious foreigners” in Batam, prompting them to investigate. They found that Ong and Sheila were both named subjects in a letter from the Philippine government informing other countries about Guo’s case.

Ong and Sheila returned to the Philippines later on Thursday, the country’s Bureau of Immigration confirmed.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, who has been leading the Senate hearings into Guo’s case, had earlier posted a video to her social media channels showing Ong and Sheila Guo in detainment, along with a message commending Indonesian authorities for their decisive action.

Guo