Photo credit: BI

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has spoken up about Guo’s illegal exit, and they’re making one thing clear—there’s no evidence that their personnel had a hand in it.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado made this statement following the latest Senate hearing on the case. According to findings from the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), Guo most likely slipped out of the country through a backdoor route in the southernmost region.

While the BI doesn’t monitor private coastlines and airstrips (that’s on local government units and law enforcement agencies), Viado expressed deep concern over how these unsecured areas are being exploited—not just by fugitives but also by human traffickers. The BI has previously flagged cases where trafficking victims were smuggled out through these routes, only to end up in scam operations abroad.

Amid these concerns, Viado took a moment to commend the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for its ongoing efforts to clamp down on illegal exits. A study conducted by IACAT in late 2024 pinpointed weak spots in border control and pushed for stronger coordination between LGUs, law enforcement, and anti-trafficking authorities.

“The misuse of backdoor exits has reportedly been a tactic to evade proper inspection by authorities," Viado said. "We commend IACAT for uniting member agencies to effectively address this national security concern.”

With Guo’s escape reigniting discussions on border security, authorities are doubling down on efforts to plug the loopholes. The BI may have cleared its personnel, but the larger issue of backdoor smuggling remains a major challenge.