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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Alice Guo to face House quad-comm for the first time 

Alice Guo to face House quad-comm for the first time 

Published Sep 18, 2024 10:44 am

At A Glance

  • The House quad-committee (quad-comm) will resume its investigation on the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) controversy on Thursday, Sept, 19 with Alice Guo expected to top-bill the list of attending resource persons. 

Alice Guo2.jpgAlice Guo (center) being escorted by police.

The House quad-committee (quad-comm) will resume its investigation on the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) controversy on Thursday, Sept, 19 with Alice Guo expected to top-bill the list of attending resource persons.

Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, overall chairman of the quad-comm, said the special four-way panel had already send a request to a Valenzuela City court to allow Guo to appear at the House proceedings.

“Invitation pa lang yung pinadala namin [sa korte]. Kasi pinayagan siya sa Senate e. So we don’t see any reason na hindi siya papayagan na mag-appear dito sa amin," Barbers said.

(We've only sent an invitation to the court. Since she was allowed to go to the Senate, we don’t see any reason why she wouldn't be allowed to appear here.)

The Mindanaoan was referring to a Senate hearing Tuesday, Sept. 17 that featured the dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor. She has yet to attend a quad-comm hearing.

Lawmakers believe that Guo is a central figure on the issue on POGOs, which President Marcos had already ordered shut down, with no exceptions.

Guo was joined in the Senate hearing by fellow POGO personality, Cassandra Ong.

Ong, a representative of suspected POGO, Lucky South 99 is likely to be at the quad-comm Thursday, since her place of custody is at the House of Representatives.

Lawyer Harry Roque, another individual with alleged links to POGOs, had dodged an arrest order from the House. Barbers said the former presidential spokesperson was considered a "fugitive".

The quad-comm had originally planned to bring Guo, Ong, and Roque together in one hearing, but this seems unlikely for now.

The joint panel has been investigating the alleged interconnected issues of POGOs, illegal drugs, money-laundering, and extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during the previous Duterte administration.

ALSO READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/17/thank-you-quad-comm-luistro-says-these-laws-should-be-revisited

Mabilog waiting in the wings

The quad-comm will also hear soon the testimony of former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Mabilog, particularly on his alleged involvement in illegal drugs, as claimed by former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Mabilog left the country in 2017 after Duterte included him on the drug watch list, and accused him of protecting drug syndicates in Iloilo City. Duterte also labeled Iloilo as the most “shabulized” city in the country under Mabilog’s leadership.

Now with Duterte no longer in office, Mabilog decided to return to the country, and hoped for a fairer treatment under the current Marcos administration.

However, Mabilog is not out of the woods yet, as the Department of Justice (DOJ) still plans to scrutinize his alleged involvement in illegal drugs.

“I think it's just right that we ask him these questions about his being in the drugs watch list and to give his side on it," Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla was quoted as saying.

In addition to the drug allegations, Mabilog faces graft charges before the Sandiganbayan over his alleged intervention in awarding a government contract to a towing services firm where he has an interest in.

During his self-imposed exile, Mabilog was ordered dismissed by Office of the Ombudsman, having found him “guilty of serious dishonesty” in connection with his unlawful acquisition of wealth.

Related Tags

Harry Roque Robert Ace Barbers POGO Alice Guo quad-committee Cassandra Ong
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