Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo revealed a “crucial personality” who is linked to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) operations in the Philippines during the executive session she had with the Senate committee on women and children.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate women’s panel said, however, that she is not satisfied with Alice Guo, or Guo Hua Ping’s testimony during the executive session.
“Hindi pa din ako masyadong satisfied sa mga pahayag sa Executive Session, bagamat (I am not yet fully satisfied with the statements during the Executive Session, although) there was one crucial personality confirmed by Guo Hua Ping,” Hontiveros said.
“This corroborates a theory that the Committee shared a month ago,” she further pointed put.
The Senate panel convened in an executive session on Tuesday after Guo vowed to disclose “the most guilty” behind the POGO-related crimes in the country.
Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, for his part said, he hopes more information can be gathered from Guo in the next executive session.
“Personally, hindi ako naniniwala na isang Alice Guo ang nasa likuran ng ganitong operasyon kundi isang international crime syndicate, at pawn o front lamang si Guo (I don’t believe that Alice Guo is behind these kind of operation but an international crime syndicate and Guo is only a pawn or front),” Ejercito said.
However, Ejercito said one should not discount the possibility that Alice Guo is an agent of China due to her evasive demeanor.
“If she will divulge who are the masterminds behind this syndicate then she can be a state witness as she is the less guilty. What is important is she tells who is behind,” Ejercito said.
Meanwhile, Hontiveros said her panel will invite Philippine National Police (PNP) officials, former and incumbent to the POGO hearings in the Senate.
“Since photos of a former chief PNP and other PNP personalities with POGO personalities were shown, we deem it important to give them a platform to respond in the interest of fairness,” she said.
During the hearing on Tuesday, photos of former police chief Benjamin Acorda and other police officers, together with POGO personalities, were shown during the investigation.