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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Embattled Tarlac mayor denies POGO link, insists fund used in 2022 polls from family business

Embattled Tarlac mayor denies POGO link, insists fund used in 2022 polls from family business

Published May 15, 2024 12:31 pm

Amid ongoing investigation that raised doubts on her citizenship and her eligibility to seek public office, embattled Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo has expressed confidence that she would be able to clear her name on the issues hounding her.

Guo is currently under investigation over questions on her citizenship that further became controversial over allegations that Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) played a key role in securing her victory in the 2022 elections. 

But Guo said that it was the money of her family and friends from the hog raising industry that helped her fund her candidacy and not POGO or any illegal activity.

‘My family already had money and a livelihood even before I entered politics, so I do not need to enter into any of the illegal activities happening in POGO,” said Guo.

She said she is ready to prove that whatever their family owns now is a result of their hard work, and effort, and not from any illegal activities.

Senators have been grilling Guo in an ongoing investigation following a raid on a POGO facility located near the municipal hall in March this year in connection with allegations of human trafficking and serious human illegal detention.

Her alleged link to the POGO operation was raised during the investigation after an electric bill under her name and a car registered under her name were allegedly recovered from the site. 

Guo, however, expressed confidence that she would eventually clear her name, especially on the questions over her citizenship and her alleged link to POGO.

She maintained that if she is really a bad person and is involved in any illegal activity, the people of Bamban would have not trusted her in her first political venture.

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