Philippine Coast Guard to Revise Pre-Departure Rules Following Alice Guo’s Escape

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is set to update its pre-departure inspection (PDI) regulations to address gaps highlighted by the recent escape of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo. PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan announced this revision during a Senate briefing on the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) 2025 budget.

Guo, who fled the country in July, reportedly left via a series of boat transfers, including a yacht. This case raised questions about the effectiveness of existing PCG regulations, which previously excluded non-common carriers from pre-departure inspections.

In response to inquiries from Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Admiral Gavan acknowledged that the current regulations did not cover private vessels. “In our existing memorandum circular on pre-departure inspection (PDI), vessels which are non-common carriers are not included in the PDI,” Gavan was quoted as saying in a report published by GMA Network.

He added that the PCG is revising the circular to include these types of vessels, with new guidelines expected to be implemented by October.

Pimentel questioned why such revisions had not been made earlier, emphasizing the need for proactive measures. “Why do we need an Alice Guo incident before we can anticipate such a scenario and cover it?” Pimentel asked.

Gavan disclosed that the regulation was crafted in 2009 but he vowed to revise the existing pre-departure rules.

“With this development, the Coast Guard recognizes that we should adapt, we should do more. We’ll be coordinating with MARINA (Maritime Industry Authority) to come up with a better regulation to cover this one,” he added.

Pimentel also highlighted concerns about the porous nature of the country’s borders and coasts, calling for improved coordination with other agencies to address these vulnerabilities.

Pimentel said: “So may nakakita ng butas and I’m sure di lang sila ang gumamit ng butas na ‘yan. So ganun pala talaga ka-porous ang ating boundaries, ang ating mga borders, ang ating coasts. So it’s time to, I hope the Philippine Coast Guard will share your realization with the other agencies na ganyan.” (So someone found a hole, and I’m sure they are not the only ones who have used that hole. So our boundaries, our borders, and our coasts are really that porous. So it’s time to, I hope the Philippine Coast Guard will share your realization with the other agencies about this.)

Alice Guo is under investigation by the Senate committee on women for her connections to a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Bamban. She faces several serious charges, including graft, money laundering, material misrepresentation, and human trafficking.

Admiral Gavan assured that the PCG would coordinate with the Maritime Industry Authority to enhance regulations. “We should adapt, we should do more,” he said, acknowledging the need for better enforcement measures.

Read related article: Alice Guo Escaped From PH Through Help of High-Ranking Police Officer