Alice Guo on identity question: I'm my father's love child

Bamban Mayor Alice Guo on Monday provided personal details about herself to refute accusations that include her alleged involvement with illegal POGO activities and that she might be a spy.

In a lengthy post shared on her official Facebook page, Guo shared details of her personal life, explaining why she had difficulties in answering questions about her identity and education during a recent Senate hearing that cast doubts about her identity.

Love child

“Alang-alang sa aking mga kababayan na nagtitiwala at nagmamahal sa akin ay buong tapang ko pong sasabihin na ako po’y isang love child ng mahal kong ama sa aming kasambahay,” said Guo.

(For my countrymen who trust and love me, I bravely admit that I am a love child of my father with his maid.)

“Na ako po ay iniwan ng aking biological mother bata pa ako noon. At ako’y pinalaki at itinatago sa loob ng isang farm. Pinalaking matindi ang pag-iwas sa mga bagay na magbibigay sana sa akin ng pagkakakilanlan sa labas ng aming hog raising farm,” she said.

(My biological mother left me when I was a child. I was raised and kept strictly hidden inside a farm to avoid raising suspicions about my identity.)

Guo reiterated she received her education through home-tutoring services and only knew her mother’s name when her birth was officially registered.

“Ang pag-iwas ko rin pong magsinungaling sa aking mga sagot ay sanhi ng pagmamahal ko at pag-aalala sa mahal kong ama. Sa kanyang edad na 70 ay ayaw ko na pong makaladkad siya sa aking pinagdaraanan,” the mayor said.

(My attempts not to lie were because of my love and concern for my father. He is 70 years old and I don’t want him to be dragged into these issues that I am facing.)

“Nangarap po ako at nagsikap para sa isang normal na buhay sa kabila ng kakulangan sa aking pagkakakilanlan. At hangad ko noon hanggang sa ngayon na maipagmalaki ako ng aking ama kahit anak nya ako sa labas ng matrimonya,” she added.

(I dreamt of a normal life despite my lack of identity. I hope then and now to make my father proud despite being his child outside of matrimony.)

The mayor claimed the questions about her identity during the senate hearing were “traumatic”.

“Traumatic po sa akin ang mga tanong sa Senate hearing tungkol sa aking pagkatao, kasi ‘yan po ang mga tanong na ayaw kong mabuksan, na sana ay mayroon akong mga sagot na makapagpaparamdam sa akin na ako’y isang normal din na nilalang,” Guo said.

(The questions about my identity at the Senate hearing were traumatic for me since these were questions I did not want to dwell on, that I wish there were answers that would make me feel that I am a normal person.)

I can't blame them

Due to suspicions that were raised regarding her identity after her vague answers during the hearing, some officials even raised the possibility that Guo might be a spy.

“Na nang sinagot ko ng kulang o hindi raw tugma sa papel na hawak nila ay maaaring espiya ako ng ibang bansa. Na dapat kasuhan. Na dapat patalsikin sa pwesto. Na dapat ikulong kasi ang sagot ay hindi ang nais nilang marinig. Hindi ko po sila masisisi, kasi hindi naman po nila batid na ang kasagutan na kanilang inaasahan, na maaaring magbigay sa kanila ng kapayapaan ng pag-iisip ay siya naman pong mga sagot na sasariwa sa sugat na nalikha sa aking kamusmusan,” Guo said.

(After my responses seemed lacking or were not the answers they wanted to hear they said I could be a spy for another country. That I should be charged or removed from office or arrested. I do not blame them, since my answers were not what they expected, to give them peace of mind.)  

In her statement, Guo said she wishes to meet her biological mother to dispel the rumors against her and prove that she is a Filipino citizen.

On POGO involvement

Furthermore, the mayor denied she is protecting the recently-raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) firm in Bamban, saying she did not receive any complaints about its operations.

Guo also said there is a Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) office inside the  Baofu Compound, housing the Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated, which she said has the “capacity to monitor any illegal online activities and has the responsibility to red flag and curb any unlawful acts”.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos earlier ordered a probe of Guo for possible revocation of her authority over the police. This comes after the DILG recommended to the Ombudsman the preventive suspension of the mayor.

On May 7, the Senate panel on women, children, family relations, and gender equality launched an investigation into the POGO hub in Bamban after it was raided by police and soldiers after it was allegedly involved in surveillance activities and even the hacking of several government websites, among other allegations.

Subsequent investigation revealed documents linking  Guo to the POGO establishment. This led the mayor to be questioned over information linking her to the operations of the scam hub, which she earlier denied.—RF, GMA Integrated News