Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday, May 29 said the National Peoples Coalition (NPC) should expel Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo due to her alleged links to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in her municipality.
“Ako, personally, from what I’m seeing and this is my personal take, na ma-expel siya sa NPC (that she be expelled by the NPC). Because connected siya sa POGO,” Gatchalian said during the Kapihan sa Manila forum.
Gatchalian is part of the advisory council of the NPC. Former Senate President Vicente Sotto III, NPC chairman, had earlier disclosed that the party is investigating Guo in light of the Senate’s investigation on POGO-linked criminal activities.
For one, the senator said Guo’s birth certificate is highly irregular, “and also invalid because of the source of information.”
Guo ran as an independent candidate during the 2022 elections and joined the NPC after winning the mayoralty race in Bamban, Tarlac.
Gatchalian said it is normal that those who win the polls join the ruling party. And since Tarlac is dominated by the NPC, it is important for NPC members to have a high standard of integrity, and good moral conduct.
“And more importantly, (he or she should not be) hindi nasasangkot sa ganitong kriminalidad (involved in criminal activities),” Gatchalian said.
“As a member of the NPC advisory council, it is important that NPC members maintain integrity, or this will set a bad precedent,” he said.
Guo has denied her involvement in POGO activities and maintained that she is a Filipino and not a spy of China.