Sen. Risa Hontiveros | FILE PHOTO/Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau
MANILA, Philippines — Jomalig Island served as a “playground” for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogo) bosses from Bamban, Tarlac, due to the local government’s alleged “family ties” with Alice Guo’s (real name Guo Hua Ping) co-accused, Senator Risa Hontiveros said on Tuesday.
During a Senate panel probe on illegal Pogo operations, Hontiveros also revealed that Jomalig Island was a hiding place for Guo before she fled the country.
“Nabatid namin na ang Jomalig Island sa Quezon Province ay mistulang playground ng mga Bamban Pogo bosses at posible din na pinagtaguan ni Guo Hua Ping,” Hontiveros said in a privilege speech.
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(We discovered that Jomalig Island in Quezon Province seems to be the playground of Bamban Pogo bosses and it is also possible that Guo Hua Ping hid there.)
“Ang co-accused niya na si Yang Bin ay may family link sa mismong nakaupong pamunuan ng Jomalig,” she added.
(His co-accused Yang Bin has a family link to the current Jomalig leadership.)
READ: 24 ex-PNP chiefs under investigation over Alice Guo’s escape – Marbil
Guo escaped the country on July 18 despite a warrant of arrest issued by the Senate after she was held in contempt for failure to attend its probe into her alleged links to Pogos.
However, she was arrested in Jakarta on Sept. 4 and was then deported back to the Philippines on Sept. 6.