Senators commended the Bureau of Internal Revenue's (BIR) initiative to investigate Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.

BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. initiated a tax fraud investigation against Guo, who is currently under Senate scrutiny for various issues, including her citizenship.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros said that it's no longer surprising that there's controversy regarding Guo's tax duties.

"Halos lahat ng dokumento na may pangalan niya ay kwestiyonable. Mula sa birth certificate hanggang sa SALN, wala pa siyang napapaliwanag nang maayos (Almost all documents in her name are questionable. From her birth certificate to her SALN, she has not explained anything clearly)," she said.

"Handang makipagtulungan ang Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality sa isinasagawang imbestigasyon ng BIR (The Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality is prepared to help in BIR's investigation)," she added.

She also thanked BIR for its initiative to hold Guo accountable.

Hontiveros also has an advice for Guo: "Come clean. Sabihin niya na ang totoo bago pa mahuli ang lahat (Tell the truth before it's too late)."

Meanwhile, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said that during the last hearing, they pointed out that the declared income of the Guo companies are not commensurate to Mayor Alice's assets and investments.

"This is an indication that there are external sources that not declared in their company's tax returns," he said.

"We commend the BIR's proactive action to investigate the sources of income of the Guo Companies and determine their liabilities to the government," he added.

Lumagui directed the relevant revenue offices to investigate other individuals and companies mentioned during the ongoing Senate hearings.

He added that criminal charges for tax evasion will be filed if the income declared to the BIR does not match the value of properties acquired during the same taxable years.