Sen. Risa Hontiveros (L) and Alice Guo. | PHOTOS: Sen. Risa Hontiveros and Senate PRIB
MANILA, Philippines — Hopes are high that dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo would finally be able to face the Senate’s hearing to ultimately divulge all her secrets in relation to her ties to Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos).
Speaking to reporters in a press conference on Wednesday, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said she is hoping that Guo would be able to attend the chamber’s public inquiry scheduled hearing Thursday, September 5.
“I am really hoping na makaharap na siya bukas so tinatarget namin, but we can only target so much dahil malaking bagay po na malaman namin sa pagitan ng Indonesian at Philippine authorities kailan talaga siya maibabalik [dito],” said Hontiveros.
(I am hoping that she will be able to face us tomorrow so we are setting it as our target, but we can only target so much because it’s important that we know between Indonesian and Philippine authorities when she will be repatriated.)
READ: Alice Guo arrested in Indonesia – DOJ, NBI
“I am fully expecting [na] magsasalita na siya nang kumpleto at katotohanan. Kasi patunay itong pag aresto sa kanya na hindi siya makakatakas talaga. Tumakas man siya noong una, nahuli pa rin siya at ibabalik dito. Kumabaga, she has nowhere else to go,” she emphasized.
(I fully expect that she will talk fully and truthfully. Because her arrest proves that she cannot escape. She may have escaped, but she was apprehended. She has nowhere else to go.)
Guo has an outstanding arrest order from the upper chamber for refusing to appear, despite due notices, at the committee on women’s hearing on July 10.
READ: Alice Guo must expose cohorts following her arrest – Gatchalian
She has been the subject of scrutiny after the Senate panel on women bared her ties to illegal pogo firm Zun Yuan Technology Inc. in Bamban, Tarlac.
Questions about her citizenship were also raised, leading to allegations that she is a Chinese spy — which she vehemently denied.
The dismissed Bamban mayor was arrested in Tangerang City, Jakarta, Indonesia at 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday according to the National Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice, citing information from Senior Superintendent Audie Latuheru of the Indonesian Police.
Hontiveros warned that everyone who helped Guo escape Philippine jurisdiction will be held accountable.
She also noted that the NBI assured her that after being repatriated back to the Philippines, Guo will be processed by the BI, transferred to the NBI, then turned over to the Senate similar to what was done to Shiela who was earlier identified as the dismissed Bamban mayor’s sister.