With more people coming out to testify about the alleged illegal activities of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country, President Marcos said that this helps the efforts of the government in building up cases against them.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo (Photos from the Presidential Communications Office, Philippine National Police)
During a media interview on Friday, Oct. 11, in Laos, the President said that people coming out to implicate dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo, aka Guo Hua Ping, in Congress’ investigations is part of the “natural evolution” of the hearings.
“Well, you know, as this process has been going on, more and more people are coming out of the woodwork to help us in our investigations. And this is just I think another one of those,” he said when asked about a foreign news report where a Chinese spy named She Zhijiang identified Guo as a spy as well.
“It’s just the natural process. And we’re… Of course, this helps the effort if people are willing to testify or are willing to provide information that will lead us to the truth. And that is what we are after,” he added.
The President stressed that this “natural evolution” of the hearings will also help in the case buildup “because cases will be filed --- have been filed and will be filed against them.”
But when asked about the current efforts of the government to address espionage in the country amid revelations that Chinese spies have infiltrated even local government units, Marcos refused to divulge details.
“Well, maybe we shouldn’t talk about what we are doing to address espionage. That would be sort of --- that would be counterproductive,” he said.
Guo, who was arrested in Indonesia following an attempt to escape the Philippines, is facing a qualified trafficking complaint at the Department of Justice (DOJ) over her alleged ties with the raided POGOs in Bamban.
In July, Marcos ordered the closure of all POGO hubs in the country amid the investigations being conducted by both Senate and the House of Representatives.