By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Boying Remulla stated on Wednesday (August 28, 2024) that Shiela Guo cannot be considered a reliable state witness.
“I do not believe Shiela Guo or what she is saying,” Remulla remarked. He expressed skepticism over the claim that the dismissed Bamban Mayor would have traveled by fishing boat for three days to reach Sabah.
“It’s hard to believe. If she came from Bongao, Zamboanga, or Tawi-Tawi, it might be plausible. But from Zambales, over 1,300 kilometers from Kota Kinabalu? It’s like something out of a movie,” he added.
During a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Shiela Guo mentioned that she and her sister Alice used several boats to reach Malaysia. She admitted she was unsure of their destination as she was only accompanying Alice.
Remulla emphasized that Shiela Guo’s testimony must be proven indispensable to be considered for the case against Alice.
“She is not a reliable witness so far. It is essential to prove that her testimony is crucial for the case,” the DOJ Secretary said.
Shiela and Cassandra Ong, a Lucky South 99 incorporator, were apprehended in Indonesia and subsequently returned to the Philippines.
ia/mnm
