Senators on Friday, September 6 said they are anticipating straight and truthful answers from dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo when she faces the Senate's hearing next week, as they criticize how some government officials welcomed her like a celebrity.
“We want answers, not a photoshoot. Matapos nyang makipag-taguan sa batas, ginawa namang fan-meet nitong si Alice Guo ang pagkakaaresto nya. Kulang na lang, red carpet (After hiding from the law, Alice Guo turned her arrest into a fan-meet. The only thing missing is a red carpet),” Senate deputy minority leader Risa Hontiveros said.
“Tingnan natin kung gaano sya ka-photogenic sa hearing sa Lunes. Unli-pictures sya doon (Let's see how photogenic she is at the hearing on Monday. She’ll have unlimited photos there),” the senator said.
At the same time, Hontiveros lashed at the government officials who even took a photo with Guo, who is facing human trafficking and money laundering charges in the Philippines.
“Isang paalala rin sa ating mga kasamahan sa gobyerno, hindi dapat ginagawang social event ang pag-aresto sa isang puganteng sangkot sa patong-patong na kaso ng human trafficking, money laundering, fake identity, gross misconduct, illegal recruitment and detention, at corruption (Also a reminder to our colleagues in the government, the arrest of a fugitive involved in multiple cases of human trafficking, money laundering, fake identity, gross misconduct, illegal recruitment and detention, and corruption should not be made into a social event),” she said.
“Pinaglaruan ni Alice Guo ang mga batas ng Pilipinas at ginamit nya ang posisyon nya para makapag-operate ang mga POGO na naging sangkot sa kidnapping, murder, human trafficking, at prostitution (Alice Guo played with the laws of the Philippines and used her position to operate POGOs who were involved in kidnapping, murder, human trafficking, and prostitution),” added the lawmaker.
Being a fake Filipino, Hontiveros said Alice Guo will have a lot of explaining to do on Monday, September, 9, the next scheduled hearing of the Senate on the illegal activities of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
“Pagbabayaran niya ang pagsisinungaling niya, ang pagtago, pagtakas, at ang panloloko sa sambayanang Pilipino (She will pay for lying, hiding, running away, and defrauding the Filipino people),” the senator assured.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian also joined Hontiveros’ call as he also criticized government officials who took selfies with Guo.
“Dapat magpakita ng professionalism and proper decorum ang lahat ng alagad ng batas lalo na sa pagaresto ng mga pugante. Talagang hindi maganda na nagpapa-selfie at ipino-post pa sa social media ng mga enforcers ang pictures na kasama nila ang isang kriminal. Hindi pwede palagpasin ng mga enforcement agencies natin ang ganitong asal (All law enforcement officers must show professionalism and proper decorum, especially when arresting fugitives. It's really not good that enforcers take selfies and even post pictures with a criminal on social media. Our enforcement agencies cannot condone this kind of behavior),” Gatchalian stressed.
At the same time, he said it is high-time for Guo Hua Ping, Alice Guo’s Chinese name, to disclose the whole truth about the POGO operations in Bamban when she faces them on Monday.
Alice is set to join her sister Shiela Guo in the Senate where she is currently detained after she and Alice’s business associate Cassandra Li Ong were arrested by Indonesian authorities and later repatriated back to the country.
“Mas makabubuting magsabi na siya ng totoo. Ang patuloy na pagsisinungaling o anumang pagtatangka na pagtakpan ang mga kasabwat at utak sa likod ng mga operasyon ng POGO ay magdudulot lamang ng mas mabigat na parusa sa kanya (It would be better for her to tell the truth. Continued lying or any attempt to cover up the accomplices and masterminds behind POGO's operations will only bring her heavier punishment),” he said.
Sen. Joel Villanueva had also called out Philippine authorities for taking pictures with Guo when she was turned over by Indonesian authorities to them.
“It’s so unprofessional,” Villanueva said.
“Seriously, do you want to take a picture with a treacherous fugitive!” he lamented.
Guo was ordered arrested by the Senate in July for repeatedly refusing to attend the Senate’s investigation into the raided POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac.
She is facing money laundering, human trafficking and a deportation case filed against her by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ).