Alice Guo’s light treatment may be a tactic to gain trust – solon

MANILA, Philippines — The supposedly light treatment that dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo received from Philippine authorities may be part of a strategy to obtain information from her, Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez said on Friday.

Fernandez was asked in an online interview with reporters covering the House of Representatives about the criticisms of certain authorities, particularly Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Marbil, who were seen in photos with a visibly happy Guo.

According to Fernandez, this might be mere “reverse psychology” to get Guo to speak on issues vital to the illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo) issue.

“But of course, somehow you have to understand also the different tactic that [is] being employed by our authorities.  There is what we call reverse psychology where you have to do things to gain the sympathy of the one you’re talking to, especially in the case of Alice, right?  She has so many apprehensions, things that she does not want to say,” Fernandez said.

“Most likely this is the tactic that was employed by DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) Secretary Benhur Abalos and Chief PNP Marbil.  And we cannot blame them.  Of course, sometimes you do things to earn their trust and confidence.  And I think that what is in their minds during that time,” he added.

Fernandez said he also used this strategy to get Whirlwind Corporation stakeholder Katherine Cassandra Li Ong to testify at the House of Representatives quad-committee hearings.

During the August 28 hearing, Ong did not want to speak, refusing to answer questions from lawmakers by saying that she was invoking her right against self-incrimination.  She was cited for contempt for the second time during this hearing, but the order was lifted when she eventually cooperated after prodding from Fernandez.

“You know, I employed that with Cassandra Li Ong, that I’ve been nice to her, lenient.  But once we saw that we cannot get anything from her, then then we have to go all out against her,” Fernandez said.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, along with many concerned citizens online, also pointed out that law enforcers did not exhibit proper behavior when Guo was being transferred to Philippine authorities after her arrest in Indonesia.

Hontiveros reminded government officials that Guo is a fugitive and not a celebrity after the embattled ex-mayor posed happily in photos with Abalos, Marbil, and other arresting officers.

READ: Hontiveros slams gov’t officials posing for photos with Alice Guo

Furthermore, Fernandez said that while he thinks Abalos and Marbil may be employing a tactic, there has to be a similar approach when the government apprehends fugitives.

“Yes, of course, the treatment of fugitives during their apprehension should be the same for everybody, application of the law must be fair.  And that’s the reason why there are many people talking about the treatment given by our authorities,” he said.

“I hope we learn from this mistake,” he added.

Guo was brought back to the Philippines early Friday morning after Indonesian authorities arrested her on Wednesday.  Guo’s deportation to the Philippines comes weeks after Ong and Shiela Guo were sent back by Indonesian authorities too.

The dismissed mayor has been the talk of the town ever since a Senate panel established her links to a Pogo in Bamban, Tarlac, that was raided last March 13 due to human trafficking complaints.

According to the DILG, Guo has links to the Pogo because she has business interests in Baofu Land Development Inc., which leased the land to Zun Yuan, the company operating the Pogo in the area.

DILG said Baofu, as represented by Guo who was president of the company, purchased eight parcels of land in Bamban last February 2019.

Guo claims to have divested ownership of Baofu, but DILG believes the amount she divested it for — P2.5 million — was “grossly incongruent to her investment on Baufo which is approximately eight hectares of land.”

READ: Pogo probe: Guo, 2 other Bamban execs suspended

Ong is also accused of being involved in another raided Pogo hub in Porac, Pampanga.  Initially, Ong claimed that she worked for Whirlwind, the company that leased the land to Lucky South 99.

Eventually, Ong admitted that she was a part of both companies.