Dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo with NBI agents (Photo released by NBI)
MANILA, Philippines — Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros criticized the suspected human trafficker and dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo for gamely posing for pictures, emphasizing that the Senate wants answers on her Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) links and not a photoshoot.
“Matapos nyang makipag-taguan sa batas, ginawa namang fan-meet nitong si Alice Guo ang pagkakaaresto nya. Kulang na lang, red carpet,” said Hontiveros in a statement on Friday, hours after the contentious local official was brought back to the Philippines.
(After she hid from us, Alice Guo used her arrest as a fan meet. The only thing that’s lacking is a red carpet.)
“Tingnan natin kung gaano siya ka-photogenic sa hearing sa Lunes. Unli-pictures siya doon,” she quipped.
(Let’s see how photogenic she is during our hearing on Monday. She’ll have unlimited pictures there.)
Before issuing these remarks, Hontiveros already issued a stern warning against government officials who were seen taking pictures with Guo.
Now-viral photos show some agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Bureau of Immigration posing for photos with Guo.
Some images likewise show Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos and Police chief Rommel Marbil with the dismissed local official.
“Isang paalala rin sa ating mga kasamahan sa gobyerno, hindi dapat ginagawang social event ang pag-aresto sa isang puganteng sangkot sa patong-patong na kaso ng human trafficking, money laundering, fake identity, gross misconduct, illegal recruitment and detention at corruption,” Hontiveros emphasized.
(One reminder to our fellow government officials, we should not use the arrest of a fugitive involved in multiple cases of human trafficking, money laundering, fake identity, gross misconduct, illegal recruitment and detention, as well as corruption as a social gathering.)
To prove her point, Hontiveros said Guo took advantage of Philippine laws and used her post as a local chief executive to operate Pogos involved in kidnapping, murder, human trafficking, and prostitution.
“Alice Guo, the fake Filipino, will have a lot of explaining to do on Monday,” said Hontiveros.
Guo was arrested in Tangerang City, Jakarta, Indonesia, at 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, according to the NBI.
She was repatriated back to the Philippines early Friday morning.
Apart from her outstanding arrest order from the Senate, Tarlac Regional Trial Court Branch 109 also issued an arrest warrant against her for alleged violation of Section 3 (e) and (h) of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.