Alice Guo questions lawmakers’ focus amid Senate probe
ANGELES CITY –“Am I really the country’s biggest problem that they need to focus on? Or they just want to project me as the villain?”
Thus, asked suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, on Thursday, July 18, as she questioned the Senate’s priorities following her intense scrutiny linking her to the illegal activities and other crimes related to the raided Philippine offshore gaming operation (POGO) in Barangay Anupul.
In her official statement posted on her social media on Facebook, Guo raised questions about the focus of the Senate probe led by the committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality. Guo said she will address all legal issues directed at her in a proper legal forum.
However, Senator Risa Hontiveros who leads the investigation along with Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said Guo must face the Senate instead of skipping hearings while on Facebook.
“You have lied about your connections with POGOs. You have lied about your identity and every time you log in on Facebook, you invent new things,” Hontiveros said.
“So sadly for you, your frequent use of social media is not equivalent to your attendance in the Senate,” the senator added.
Authorities failed to locate Guo, or Guo Hua Ping, who was ordered arrested by the Senate last July 13 for failing to attend the previous Senate committee hearings repeatedly citing severe exhaustion and trauma.
Guo along with business permit and licensing officer Edwin Ocampo, and Bamban municipal legal officer Adenn Sigua, were placed under a six-month preventive suspension from May 31 by the Office of the Ombudsman for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
Acting Mayor Leonardo Anunciacion assumed office last June 4 together with Erdy Timbang who took on the role of acting vice mayor. Other officials and employees of the local government units in Bamban have grappled with the aftermath of the controversy left by Guo which stemmed from the raided Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated at the Baofu compound right behind the municipal hall.