Former Bamban Mayor Alice Leal Guo | FILE PHOTO/Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate panel on women on Tuesday convened in an executive session after dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo (real name: Guo Hua Ping) swore to disclose the “most guilty” behind crimes linked to illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos).
During the hearing, Sen. JV Ejercito asked Guo if she is the “mastermind” behind crimes linked to Pogos and whether she is willing to disclose the persons involved.
“Your honor, hindi po ako mastermind. Masasabi ko po isa po akong victim,” Guo replied.
(Your Honor, I am not the mastermind. I can say that I am a victim.)
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Ejercito then asked Guo if she is being used by an international crime syndicate.
“Hindi naman po sa ginamit, if ever po, kung mayroon man po akong naitulong…ano po akong tao, helpful akong tao. Kung mayroon man po, ‘yun lang po. Pero sa mga activities po na ginawa or sa mga allegations po, wala po akong kinalaman,” she said.
(It’s not that I was used, if ever, if I may have helped in any way…it’s because I am a helpful person. If I contributed, that’s all there is to it. But regarding the activities that were done or the allegations, I am not involved.)
Guo also said that she is not guilty and the committee might already know who the mastermind is at this point.
“Your honor, I think sa tagal po ng investigation alam na rin po ng committee po, especially chaired by our madam chair, who’s really at the back of everything po,” she said.
(Your Honor, I think with the length of the investigation, the committee, especially our Madam Chair, already knows who is really behind everything.)
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Ejercito also nudged Guo to tell all she knew in an executive session.
“May pagkakataon ka pang sabihin kung sinuman ang talagang nasa likuran. Kasi kung sabi mo ikaw ay biktima, maawa rin tayo sa naging biktima ng Pogo,” Ejercito told Guo.
(You have the opportunity to disclose all the people behind this. You’re claiming that you’re a victim, but let’s also pity those who have been victimized by Pogos.)
He then explained that when the Senate convenes in an executive session, senators can’t disclose to the public the details discussed.
“Willing ka bang sabihin ‘yung most guilty na sinasabi mo?” Ejercito asked.
(Are you willing to unmask the most guilty?)
Guo answered yes.
Panel head Sen. Risa Hontiveros and Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada in a previous hearing expressed hesitance to submit the chamber to Guo’s request, saying that they have not seen any reason to believe that Guo would provide them reliable information that would merit them to grant an executive session.