SUAL MAYOR CALUGAY IN SENATE HEARING: Sual, Pangasinan Mayor Liseldo Calugay makes his first appearance at the hearing of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality on the alleged illegal activities at Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in Pampanga and Tarlac on Tuesday, September 17, 2024. Calugay’s staff had reportedly arranged the notary of former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, whose real name is Guo Hua Ping, on a date when she had already left the Philippines. (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines — Sual Mayor Liseldo “Dong” Calugay denied on Tuesday that he had a relationship with dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo (real name: Guo Hua Ping), stating that they are just “friends.”
The mayor made this statement during a Senate women’s committee hearing, where senators questioned him about his alleged ties with Guo.
“Ay hindi po (no, we’re not),” Calugay said when asked by Senator Joel Villanueva if he and Guo were “lovers in Pogo (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator).”
READ: Sual Mayor Dong Calugay skips Pogo probe again, subpoena ordered
Asked if he has a business partnership with Guo or even a shared bank account, Calugay responded: “Wala po, ni-isa po (We do not, not even one).”
Calugay also claimed they had never even planned on getting a business together with Guo.
Other senators also questioned Calugay on his relationship with Guo.
READ: Alice Guo denies owning Alisel Aquafarm, relationship with Sual mayor
“Magkaibigan lang po (We’re just friends),” Calugay said when asked by Senator Risa Hontiveros to describe his relationship with Guo.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy then asked: “Sigurado ka? Kaibigan lang hindi ka-ibigan? (Are you sure? Just friends, not lovers?)”
“Kaibigan lang po (Just friends),” he insisted.
During a previous Senate panel hearing, Estrada questioned Guo about whether she and Calugay own Alisel Aquafarm and if they were in a relationship.
Guo denied both, even claiming she did not know Calugay’s full name, explaining that she only knew him as “Dong.”
