Sen. Jinggoy Estrada (left) and Alice Guo. (Photos from Joseph B. Vidal, OSP/Voltaire F. Domingo, Senate Social Media Unit/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo has denied owning Alisel Aquafarm in Sual, Pangasinan, and having a relationship with Sual Mayor Liseldo “Dong” Calugay.
During the Senate panel on women’s probe on Monday, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada quizzed Guo on whether or not she and Calugay own Alisel Aquafarm.
Estrada initially asked Guo if she knew Calugay’s full name.
“Magkaibigan kayo, hindi mo alam yung tunay na pangalan niya? Dong lang ang alam mo. Hindi, ang tinatanong ko, the real name,” he said.
(You are friends with him and yet you don’t know his real name? You only know his nickname Dong. No, what I’m asking is his real name.)
Guo insisted that she didn’t know Calugay’s full name.
“Hanggang pati ba naman sa pangalan ng boyfriend mo nagsisinungaling ka pa?” Estrada asked.
(Even with the name of your boyfriend you’re still lying?)
“Sir, hindi ko po talaga siya boyfriend,” Guo said.
(Sir, he is not my boyfriend.)
Photo from Mayor Dong Calugay Facebook
Estrada then asked if Guo was aware of the existence of Alisel Aquafarm in Sual, Pangasinan.
Guo said as far as she knows, the business is non-existent.
Estrada then pointed out that the name “Alisel” could be a combination of the names “Alice” and “Liseldo.”
“Kasi if you coin the name Alisel, Alice stands for Alice and Sel stands for Liseldo. Tama? Are you aware of that? Hindi po ba kayo ang owner? Alice Guo and Liseldo Calugay?” Estrada teased.
(Because if you coin the name Alisel, Alice stands for Alice and Sel stands for Liseldo. Is that correct? Are you aware of that? Aren’t you guys the owner? Alice Guo and Liseldo Calugay?)
Guo again insisted that she does not own an aquafarm in Pangasinan. She said the business did not push through.
A business certificate from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) was then presented. It showed that Shiela Guo, the supposed sister of Alice, was the owner of Alisel Aquafarm.
To recall, Shiela already clarified that she is not the owner of the aquafarm.
At this point, Sen. Joel Villaueva interjected, noting that Shiela’s previous statement was she “did not know anything about [the farm] because she was only asked by Alice to sign documents related to it.”
Upon hearing this, Estrada asked Alice if Shiela was telling the truth.
Alice said there were “proposals” for such, but she cannot recall if it pushed through.
Senate panel on women head Sen. Risa Hontiveros previously revealed that a Senate executive session bared Calugay’s possible involvement in Alice’s escape from the Philippines.
READ: Senate probe sees link of Sual, Pangasinan mayor to Alice Guo’s escape
Calugay, through Executive Order No. 045, ordered the designation of Vice Mayor John Christopher Arcinue as acting municipal mayor of Sual from September 9 to 13.
The executive order states that Calugay has “ongoing medical concerns.” He previously skipped the Senate hearing due to dengue.
READ: Sual Mayor Dong Calugay skips Pogo probe again, subpoena ordered