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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Observe rules on admissibility in 'Chinese spy' claim vs Alice Guo--Tolentino

Observe rules on admissibility in 'Chinese spy' claim vs Alice Guo--Tolentino

Published Sep 30, 2024 06:22 am

At A Glance

  • Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino reminded the Senate to observe the rules of admissibility in treating the allegation that surfaced recently from an Al Jazeera documentary linking Alice Guo to China's civilian intelligence network.

Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino reminded the Senate to observe the rules of admissibility in treating the allegation that surfaced recently from an Al Jazeera documentary linking Alice Guo to China's civilian intelligence network.

Tolentino said this as he stressed that the claim against Guo by a "self-confessed Chinese spy" interviewed by Al Jazeera in Thailand needs to be backed by evidence.

“First, we do not have jurisdiction over the source in the interview who is detained in Thailand. Second, we do not know the basis of his claim,” said the senator in a radio interview on DZBB.

“I'll ask [Guo’s] reaction to the video. But under the rules of admissibility in our courts, whatever was stated in the video cannot be authenticated because the person who was interviewed is in Thailand,” he added.

Tolentino says that the video can be authenticated two ways: first, if the source is brought over to the Philippines from Thailand to testify; or second, if the source is brought to the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok, where the Senate would have to conduct a hearing.

“That's how the Senate could gain jurisdiction, otherwise it's just a video,” he noted.

In the meantime, Tolentino believes that the Senate probe should focus on the additional information that Guo committed to divulge to the senators in part two of the executive session, which will be scheduled soon.

Asked if he thinks the Chinese Embassy should be officially notified by the government to comment on the matter, Tolentino replied: “I leave that to the Department of Justice (DOJ). But as things stand, we already have so many pending concerns with China that need more urgent attention.”

Excerpts of this documentary were played during the back-to-back interpellations of Davao Oriental 2nd district Rep. Cheeno Miguel Almario and Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Party-list Rep. Margarita "Migs" Nograles during the House quad-comm hearing Friday.

Guo--who senators call Guo Hua Ping, her supposed real identity--was featured in the documentary in the form of an entry in She's dossier.

One of the excerpts shown to the special four-way panel was She's personal appeal to the ex-mayor and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) personality.

"Guo Hua Ping. China cannot be trusted. The two of us once dedicated our lives to China's Ministry of State Security. Look at what happened to me. If you don't want to be eliminated, you should tell the world the truth," said She.

Related Tags

Senator Francis Tolentino Migs Nograles Alice Guo She Zhijiang
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