Sherwin Gatchalian and Alice Guo
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday said he would question dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo about the government officials who helped her establish the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) hub in Bamban, Tarlac.
“Pagdating dito sa ating bansa, gusto ko ring malaman sa kanya kung sino ‘yung mga government official na kasama niya o tumulong sa kanya sa pagtatayo ng Pogo,” he said in a press conference.
(When she arrives in the country, I want her to reveal the government officials who helped her establish a Pogo hub.)
Gatchalian said intelligence reports bared during the executive session showed that some government officials are involved in the illegal activities of Pogos.
“[M]erong mga links [between] government officials at even enforcement agencies natin dito sa Pogo hub sa Bamban. So gusto nating malaman [kung] sino ang mga taong ito, at kung sino ang tumulong sa kanya para mapalaganap niya ang kanyang illegal operations sa Bamban,” he said.
(There are links between government officials and even enforcement agencies here in the Bamban Pogo hub. So we want to know who these people are and which one helped Guo in spreading her illegal operations in Bamban.)
However, Gatchalian refused to divulge additional information for two reasons: he is still bound by the executive session and it would be better if Guo named the government officials herself.
“Kasi yung paghinto sa Pogo is only one aspect eh. Pero yung mga taong tumulong mabuo itong Pogo sa ating bansa, kasama yung mga government officials, mga politicians, even enforcement agencies — kailangan nating malaman ‘yan at habulin at ako naniniwala na si Guo Hua Ping [ay] kilala niya ang mga ito,” he explained.
(Because stopping Pogos’ activities is only one aspect. But the people involved in establishing Pogos in the country, including government officials, politicians and even enforcement agencies, we need to know and go after them, and I believe Guo is well aware of who these people are.)
Guo has an arrest order from the Senate for refusing to appear, despite due notices, at the committee on women’s hearing on July 10.
She has been the subject of scrutiny after the Senate panel on women bared her ties to raided Pogo firm Zun Yuan Technology Inc. in Bamban.
Questions about her citizenship were also raised, leading to allegations that she is a Chinese spy, which she vehemently denied.
However, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) earlier confirmed that she and Chinese national Guo Hua Ping are one.
READ: Arrest Alice Guo, others – Senate
Guo was arrested in Tangerang City, Jakarta, Indonesia at 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, according to the NBI, citing information from Senior Superintendent Audie Latuheru of the Indonesian Police.