FILE PHOTO: Suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo’s supposed link to the busted Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) Lucky South 99 is supported by existing information, according to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian. Photo from the official Facebook page of Sen. Risa Hontiveros
MANILA, Philippines — Alice Guo’s alleged link to the busted Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) Lucky South 99 is supported by existing information, according to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.
But he refused to disclose more details on the supposed relationship of the suspended Bamban, Tarlac mayor to the Pampanga-based Pogo because investigations on the matter are still ongoing.
“Based sa mga information, meron syang koneksyon dito. Hindi lang namin masabi pa ‘yung details [because investigations are] ongoing,” Gatchalian simply told reporters in a press conference after he conducted an ocular at the Pogo hub on Monday, June 24.
(Based on information, she has connections here. We cannot disclose more details because investigations are ongoing.)
READ: Gatchalian: Is ‘Guo Hua Ping’ the real Alice Guo?
“Pero based sa mga information, may koneksyon siya dito sa Pogo hub through the partners at sa mga kausap niya,” he added.
(But based on existing information, she has connections here in this Pogo hub through partners and individuals she’s talking to.)
Gatchalian also refused to answer whether or not Guo is among individuals operating Lucky South 99.
“Ang masasagot ko lang [ay] ‘yung mga kausap niyang tao nakita rin dito sa Pogo hub na ito. That’s the link that we are referring to,” he said.
(What I can say is that the people she’s talking to were also found in this Pogo hub. That’s the link we are referring to.)
Guo has been the subject of scrutiny after the Senate committee on women bared her alleged ties to Zun Yuan Technology Inc., an illegal offshore gaming operator in Bamban, Tarlac.
She has repeatedly denied all accusations hurled against her, including being an alleged spy of China.
READ: Guo on kin: We’re not Pogo protectors; ‘love me before you thwart me’
Gatchalian then pointed out that Lucky South 99 is in fact linked to Zun Yuan Technology Inc.
He said the two illegal Pogos were built from 2019 to 2022 even when construction of buildings and infrastructure had been prohibited due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Itong Pogo hub tsaka ‘yung Pogo hub sa Bamban, kahit na panahon ng pandemic, kino-construct nila. Ibig sabihin, may taong nagko-construct doon. Isa pang red flag ‘yan. Natatandaan natin [na in] 2020 walang construction na nangyayari nang isang taon. Kung ikaw ay local government at nakita mo [na] may nagpapatayo don, red flag na agad. Bakit nakakapagpatayo sila ng pasilidad na bawal ang construction?” Gatchalian pointed out.
(This Pogo hub and the Pogo hub in Bamban, even during the pandemic, are being constructed. This means there are people actively constructing it. That’s another red flag. Remember in 2020, it was a year that all construction was halted. If you are a local government and you saw that an establishment is being constructed, that is already a red flag. Why are they constructing an establishment when construction is not allowed?)