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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOJ exec admits Shiela Guo can become state witness but…

DOJ exec admits Shiela Guo can become state witness but…

Published Aug 28, 2024 07:21 am

A Department of Justice (DOJ) official on Wednesday, August 28 admitted there is a possibility that Shiela Guo, dismissed Bamban, Tarlac City Mayor Alice Guo’s sister, can become a state witness in the government’s investigation into the illegal activities of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) in the country.

While he doesn’t want to preempt any decisions, Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty said Shiela is qualified to be a state witness.

“I don’t want to get ahead, but she is qualified, because if you analyze it, she’s not the mastermimd of all these illegal things, if we are going to believe her testimony yesterday,” Ty told reporters in an ambush interview at the sidelines of the Senate hearing on the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) budget for 2025.

Judging by her statements during the Senate hearing, Ty said it appears that Shiela Guo “was only implicated” by Alice Guo and other personalities in this case.

“So let’s see what would happen. Many things may still happen,” Ty said.

But as far as he is concerned, a case is needed to be filed against Shiela before she can be considered a state witness.

“She would then be discharged on the ground that she will be a state witness,” he explained.

He said it would be the DOJ that would determine if she is qualified to be a state witness and if it has to be brought in court.

But Ty said there is no need to dwell on such probability. “This is only forward thinking. A lot needs to be done before she comes a state witness, if ever it happens.”

During the Senate hearing on Tuesday, Shiela bared details of how she, Alice and their brother Wesley Guo left the Philippines on the first week of July.

She also admitted that Alice is not her biological sister and that she only met the dismissed mayor when she was already 17 years old. According to her, it was Angelito Guo, who is also not her biological father, who introduced her to Alice.

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state witness Department of Justice (DOJ) Shiela Guo
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