Alice Guo’s camp eyeing legal charges vs Al Jazeera

MANILA, Philippines — The camp of dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo (real name: Guo Hua Ping) said on Friday that it was studying filing a legal case against news channel Al Jazeera over a documentary that bared her alleged identity as a Chinese spy.

“On our part, we are studying legal possibilities na pwedeng file-an ‘yung Al Jazeera for this malicious insinuation,” said Atty. Stephen David, Guo’s legal counsel, in a chance interview with reporters on Friday.

(On our part, we are studying legal possibilities that we can file against Al Jazeera for this malicious insinuation.)

“Asaan ba ang hustisya diyan? Mag-allege ka ng walang basihan (Where is justice in that? Allegations without basis),” he added.

David then questioned the intent of She Zhijang, the subject of the documentary who leaked Guo’s alleged identity, and said that he may have only set that narrative to seek asylum in Thailand.

“Hindi ko alam ano motive ng taong ‘yon, baka gusto niya manghingi ng asylum o baka kung ano, gagawa ka ng kwento,” he said.

(I don’t know what that person’s motive is. Maybe he wants to ask for asylum or something, so you make up a story.)

The documentary was about She Zhijiang, a Chinese tycoon jailed in Thailand who claimed that he funneled funds to Guo for her election campaign in the Philippines.

The same documentary showed Guo’s alleged hometown in Fujian, China, which sat close to a Chinese Communist Party office.

But Guo furiously denied this, stating that she does not know nor has ever met the Chinese tycoon.

READ: Agitated? Alice Guo loses cool after House shows docu on Chinese spy

Meanwhile, David then called on relevant government agencies to “properly” investigate the spy allegations and to not rely on trial by publicity.

“Pakiusap ko lang sa mga authorities, imbestigahan nila ng maayos. Kasi ang hirap naman ‘yung mga trial by publicity naco-convict ka ng wala naman silang basehan,” said David.

(My only request to the authorities is to conduct a proper investigation. It’s difficult when you’re convicted by trial by publicity without any solid basis.)

“Kasi kawawa naman ‘yung mga tao na kakasuhan mo ng isang bagay sinabi mo sa media, sa public, then iniwan mong ganoon, in the eyes of the public, guilty na ‘yong tao,” he added.

(Because it’s unfair to the people you accuse of something, say it to the media or public, and then leave it like that. In the eyes of the public, that person is already guilty.)