Senator Jinggoy Estrada, Bamban Mayor Alice Guo (Facebook)

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada wants to get to the bottom of the money-laundering claims against controversial Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo. 

In a statement Monday, June 24, Estrada said that the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) should step into the issue. 

"The [AMLC] should consider studying the possibility of issuing an order to freeze all the assets of suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo," he said. 

"In light of recent allegations and emerging evidence on Mayor Guo, it is imperative that the AMLC take decisive action to safeguard the integrity of public funds, ensure accountability and promote transparency," added the senator from San Juan City. 

He says the move "is a crucial step in preventing the disposition of purported illegally acquired assets that may be subject to investigation". 

"Ang ganitong hakbang ay makatutulong upang magkaroon ng masusing imbestigasyon at malaman ang katotohanan sa likod ng kaliwa’t kanang akusasyon na may kinalaman diumano ang lokal na opisyal sa ilang iligal na aktibidad, kabilang ang money-laundering," added Estrada. 

(This move will help us attain qn in-depth investigation and in turn find out the truth behind the multiple accusations that a local official allegedly has links to illegal activities, including money-laundering.) 

"This action should also prompt our authorities to thoroughly investigate the entangling web of illegal activities perpetrated in POGOs (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators)," he further said.