Alice Guo returns to Senate for POGO probe
ANGELES CITY – Dismissed mayor of Bamban, Tarlac Alice Guo finally appeared again before the Senate panel in a bulletproof vest during the hearing on illegal Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGO) on Monday, September 9.
The Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality welcomed Guo after she fled the country.
According to Guo, she initially escaped on a white yacht with “wings” then transferred to a larger boat, then finally a smaller bangka prior to arriving in Malaysia.
Guo insisted that no government official assisted her in leaving. She also refused to name the person who helped her escape, instead providing the information in writing for the Senate panel’s review.
“Nung nakasakay na kami sa barko, aatras na sana ako. Nakakatakot po talaga,” Guo said. “Walang Filipino o Filipina na tumulong sa amin makatakas.”
The dismissed mayor last attended the hearing in May, subsequently citing mental health and stress for her absence before leaving the Philippines.
Guo was held in contempt for lying after Senate committee chairperson Risa Hontiveros asked her to confirm whether she is also Guo Hua Ping.
Although the National Bureau of Investigation has confirmed that the fingerprints of the dismissed mayor and Guo Hua Ping matched, Guo continued to neither deny nor confirm her true identity due to death threats which started in June. Guo said she received threats more than five times via phone coming from the Philippines.
“The chair cites Alice Guo or Guo Hua Ping in contempt for testifying falsely and evasively before the committee,” Hontiveros said.
“This is a blatant defiance of the constitutional power of inquiry. Pinaglalaruan mo ang aming batas at pinapaikot mo ang mga Pilipino. Pero ibahin mo ang Senado,” Hontiveros added.
The Senate panel had previously cited Guo in July for failing to attend the Senate hearings.
In the meantime, Guo will remain under the custody of the Philippine National Police custodial center.
This follows after making an appearance at the Capas, Tarlac court who ordered her arrest for two graft charges last September 6. She is also facing charges of money laundering and human trafficking tied to POGOs.