Textbook scam suspect held in contempt for lying about Guo’s case

MANILA, Philippines — A suspect in the 1998 textbook scam was held in contempt by a Senate panel for lying about her supposed role in convincing dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo to surrender to authorities.

The motion to cite Mary Ann Maslog for contempt was made by Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa during the Senate committee on women’s probe into Guo’s alleged lies to illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) on Tuesday.

“It’s very clear that Mary Ann Maslog is lying before this committee,” Dela Rosa said.

“She said earlier that she was approached by General Macapaz. Now General Macapas is saying that Mary Ann Maslog went to him to volunteer. With that, I move that Ms. Mary Ann Maslog be cited for contempt,” he added in Filipino.

Dela Rosa was referring to Gen. Romeo Macapaz, officer in charge of the Philippine National Police’s  Intelligence Group (-PNP-IG).

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“Who should we believe? A textbook scammer or this one-star general? Who should we trust?” he asked.

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Dela Rosa’s motion was immediately seconded by some of his colleagues.

Before this, Maslog, who introduced herself to the committee as Jessica Francisco, claimed that she was tapped by Macapaz to help convince Guo to surrender to the police.

According to her, she was tapped by the PNP-IG because she is a friend of Sual, Pangasinan Mayor Liseldo “Dong” Calugay.

Maslog said she then asked Calugay if there was a way to contact Guo.

At this point, panel head Sen. Risa Hontiveros asked why she thought she could contact Guo through Calugay.

“I was told po that they had a relationship,” Maslog answered, referring to Guo and Calugay.

Asked by Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada what kind of relationship the two had, Maslog answered:  “Ang pagkakaalam ko po, Sir, but I’ve never seen them together, but I would tell you pagkakaalam ko po naging mag-on po sila.”

(As far as I know, Sir, I’ve never seen them together, but I can tell you that from what I know they were in a relationship.)

Upon hearing this, Estrada teased Guo, who was also present in the hearing.

READ: Alice Guo’s alleged child with Mayor Calugay raised at Senate probe

“Kinikilig ito si Alice Guo o. Kita mo o,” Estrada said.

(Alice Guo is thrilled. Look.)

Guo, who was caught smiling, said in Filipino: “You are funny, your honor.”

Macapaz, however, contradicted Maslog’s claim, saying it was the latter who offered her help to the PNP-IG.

“When this happened to Alice Guo, she volunteered that she had access to Atty. David,” Macapaz said, referring to Guo’s lawyer, Stephen David.

Guo, who was ordered arrested by the Senate for repeated refusal to face its probe,  was captured by local authorities in Indonesia last Sept. 4.

Maslog, on the other hand, was arrested in Quezon City last Sept. 25 over her alleged involvement in the  P24-million textbook procurement anomaly in 1998.

READ: 1998 textbook scam suspect Maslog back from the ‘dead’

Maslog is currently under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation.

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