Hontiveros: DFA must contact Thai gov’t to get info from Chinese spy

INVESTIGATE GUO’S SPY LINKS: Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, calls on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to arrange a meeting with Chinese Cambodian businessman She Zhijiang who is known for his extensive gambling investments across Southeast Asia including Cambodia, the Philippines and Myanmar. Hontiveros made the request during a public hearing Tuesday, October 8, 2024, after She Zhijiang’s cellmate, Wang Fugui, claimed that former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping, was allegedly involved in espionage activities for China. (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Risa Hontiveros urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to exhaust diplomatic channels with Thailand so that Philippine authorities can get information from self-confessed Chinese spy She Zhijiang.

The senator, in a statement previously, said she received information that She was “currently unreachable.”

“We don’t have firm information on that. Kaya talagang umaasa ako sa DFA to establish that fact and magbunga sana kung nakipag-ugnayan na sila sa Thai officials para makausap ng Philippine authorities natin si She,” Hontiveros told reporters on Friday.

(We don’t have firm information on that. That’s why I’m expecting the DFA to establish that fact and make progress if they’ve coordinated with Thai officials to allow Philippine authorities to talk with She.)

“Kung wala man tayong makuha kay She by the time of our next and last hearing, at least in a way, nag-hand over na kami sa executive at sa ating intelligence agencies na alamin itong mga seryosong possible ng implikasyon ng mga revelations so far ni She,” the senator added.

(If we can’t get anything from She by the time of our next and last hearing, at least in a way, we’ve handed it over to executive and intelligence agencies to investigate these possible severe implications of She’s revelations so far.)

She Zhijiang, in an Al Jazeera interview, claimed that “Guo Hua Ping” was named in a dossier alleging the existence of Chinese spies.

Guo Hua Ping is said to be the real name of dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo, whom the Senate is investigating for her supposed involvement in illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators.

READ: As docu angers Guo, she’s told about ‘8 steps’ of Chinese spying

The senator’s office interviewed She’s former cellmate, Wang Fu Gui, who confirmed Guo as a Chinese spy.

READ: Alice Guo confirmed as spy by She Zhijiang’s ex-cellmate

Hontiveros stressed, “Kung hindi agarang kikilos ang pamahalaan, mawawalan tayo ng pagkakataon na pag-aralan ang impormasyon na hawak ni She, lalo na sa koneksyon ni Guo Hua Ping, at ng iba pang indibidwal, sa Ministry of State Security, o ang intelligence at secret police agency ng Tsina.”

(If the government doesn’t act quick, we will lose the chance to study the information that She has, especially with regard to the connection of Guo Hua Ping and other individuals to the Ministry of State Security, China’s intelligence and secret police agency.)

“Given the possible serious implications to our national security, itong mga claims ni She, the failure in this effort is simply not an option here,” she added.

(Given the possible serious implications to our national security, She’s claims, the failure in this effort is simply not an option here.)