Question 1: What exactly happened yesterday?

Yesterday noon, first, Minister of the Interior Benjamin Abalos announced that Alice Guo, the "POGO Mayor," had two companions arrested in Batam Island, Indonesia. The arrested individuals were Cassandra Li Ong and Sheila Guo, both linked to the POGO case involving Alice Guo, with the latter being her sister. It is reported that they were intercepted by Indonesian authorities while preparing to leave Indonesia.

The reason for their arrest, according to the statement from the Philippine Bureau of Immigration, is: "The Indonesian immigration considered them as illegal foreigners since they are wanted in the Philippines." However, legally speaking, Indonesia's action might not strictly be an "arrest" but rather an "expulsion," mainly because they are connected to a criminal organization and considered undesirable foreigners. Of course, this involves official communication and intervention from the Philippines.

Later, Senator Raffy Tarpaulin also confirmed this news, stating that Sheila Leal Guo and Cassandra Li Ong were arranged to return to the Philippines on a Philippine Airlines flight yesterday afternoon. Their specific flight number was PR 540, which landed at Manila International Airport Terminal 1 around 4:30 PM yesterday.

According to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Committee, officials from the Philippine Bureau of Immigration went to Indonesia to bring these two individuals back.

Question 2: What happened to the two arrested individuals subsequently?

Last evening, upon their arrival at Manila Airport, they were first taken to the Bureau of Immigration (BI), then transferred to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). The Bureau of Immigration will investigate the immigration charges against Sheila Guo, while the NBI will detain Ong and Sheila Guo and interrogate them.

Subsequently, the NBI will process the two based on arrest warrants issued by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Sheila, Alice Guo's sister, was one of the individuals ordered arrested by the Senate in July. The House of Representatives had previously ordered the detention of Ong for her prolonged absence from investigations related to POGO crimes, resulting in a contempt of court charge. Additionally, both are involved in numerous charges related to immigration laws and obstruction of justice.

This weekend is expected to be an intense interrogation period for the two. It is reported that they might also be required to attend a hearing next week.

Where is Alice Guo now?

Currently, Alice Guo and her brother Wesle Guo's whereabouts are still unknown. Winston Casio, spokesperson for the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Committee, mentioned that Indonesian counterparts have shared some information, suggesting that Wesle Guo might have fled to another country. The specific country has not yet been disclosed.

However, there is still no concrete information from Indonesia about Alice Guo having left Indonesia, so there is a significant possibility that she might still be in Indonesia, possibly even on Batam Island.

There were also reports yesterday that concerned citizens at Kuala Lumpur International Airport saw a woman resembling Alice Guo and sent photos to the Philippine authorities. Deputy Minister of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Committee, Gilbert Cruz, confirmed that the photos were taken before she flew from Malaysia to Singapore. In the photos, Guo was dressed in black, wearing glasses, and carrying a bag and suitcase.

Why was this operation so swift?

Compared to previous delays, this time the Philippine government departments demonstrated "remarkable speed." This is likely related to the president's furious demand for a thorough investigation into the escape incident involving Alice Guo, to identify the "insider" and make them "pay the price." The urgency in handling the case also carries a bit of "making amends" and "mending the fold after the sheep are lost."

It's worth noting that the Indonesian side was a great help in this arrest. Reports indicate that President Marcos himself was quite concerned about this matter. Yesterday, Marcos also stated that the Philippine government was coordinating with Indonesian authorities to ensure the smooth return of Alice Guo and her accomplices, promising results within a day. The personal involvement of the president undoubtedly accelerated the progress of repatriating the two individuals.

What impact will this arrest have on later investigations and arrests?

The arrest of these two individuals is "obviously" helpful in locating Alice Guo, according to Philippine official investigators. The joint travel and collective arrest of Sheila Leal Guo and Cassandra Li Ong essentially confirm the official theory that the crime base they were part of is interconnected, aiding the direction of the investigation. Their arrest and interrogation also help clarify Alice Guo's current whereabouts. Now, with administrative assistance and information sharing from other countries, the net around Alice Guo's escape case seems to be slowly closing, reaching its end, while all parties are observing the progress of the investigation and how many will "pay the price" for this incident.