Bamban Mayor Alice Guo willing to undergo DNA test — lawyer

Bamban Mayor Alice Guo is open to undergo a DNA test, the mayor's camp said Tuesday. 

However, it was not clear if it will be with Wen Yi Lin, a Chinese national who is suspected of being Guo's actual mother, or Amelia Leal, whom the mayor said is her mother.

In an interview with Super Radyo dzBB, Atty. Stephen David, legal counsel of Guo, was asked if the mayor was willing to undergo a DNA test with Wen Yi Lin.

He replied: “Wala namang problema ‘yan kung lumabas ‘yung kasambahay na ‘yan (there’s no problem if that helper comes out).”

Guo earlier said that she is her father's love child with their helper Amelia, who left her when she was still a child.

The Philippine Statistics Authority said they have no birth records of Guo's parents.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian previously dared Guo to undergo DNA testing with Wen Yi Lin to prove her nationality. Senator Risa Hontiveros has also released documents that showed that Wen Yi Lin is an incorporator in Guo's businesses. 

A former consultant of Guo, however, denied that Wen Yi Lin is the mayor's biological mother.

David said they were surprised with the six-month preventive suspension imposed against Guo amid the probe over her alleged links to a raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in her locality.

“Inaasahan namin na mag fa-file sila ng kaso sa Ombudsman, pero hindi namin inaasahan na mag pre-preventive suspension siya,” he said.

(We were expecting them to file a case in the Ombudsman but we didn’t expect the preventive suspension.)

On Monday, the Office of the Ombudsman suspended Guo and two other municipal officials following the complaint filed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

The suspension stemmed from the issuance of business permit to Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc. despite the company failing to complete the requirements and having an expired license from the Philippine  Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR).

Guo’s camp affirmed that there is nothing wrong with the issuance of a business permit to the offshore gaming operator company, noting that they would file a motion for reconsideration with motion to lift.

"As long as compliant 'yung permittee, ‘yung grantee ng mayor’s permit, wala namang illegal doon. Ngayon kung hindi mo iisyuhan ng mayor’s permit, kakasuhan naman ang mayor ng dereliction of duty. Anong gagawin niya? Qualified ‘yung applicant,” said David. 

(As long as the permittee or the grantee of the mayor's permit is compliant, there’s nothing illegal with that. If the mayor would not issue a permit, the mayor would be charged for dereliction of duty. What else would she do? The applicant was qualified.) 

But David said that the suspension was good for the mayor to allow her to relax and focus on “her problems.” 

Business Permit and Licensing Officer Edwin Ocampo refused to give a statement, while GMA Integrated News is still reaching out to Municipal Legal Officer Adenn Sigua.

In a statement Monday evening, Guo said she would comply with the Ombudsman’s suspension order while stressing she did nothing wrong or illegal.

“Ako po ay sumasang-ayon sa proseso ng batas at tinatanggap ang pasya ng Ombudsman pero ilalaban ko ang aking kaso. Nais ko rin pong iparating na wala akong kasalanan at tapat akong nagsisilbi sa ating bayan at mamamayan,” she said.

(I am complying with the processes of the law and I accept the Ombudsman's decision, but I will contest my case. I also want to say that I have done nothing wrong and I have faithfully served our country and people.)

Meanwhile, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, who earlier grilled Guo over her romantic relationships, said during the Kapihan sa Senado that he received "a very reliable" information that the mayor's "partner" is also a local chief executive of a small town in Pangasinan and he allegedly runs the POGO operations in Bamban.

Should he secure evidence that would back this information, Estrada said he might ask Guo's alleged partner to appear in the Senate investigation.

He also expressed willingness to provide this information to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) but he believes that the agency is already aware of this.

"It’s up to the DILG to have their own investigation. But of course, I won't meddle. If they want to ask the name from me, I will divulge the name," he said. —with Hana Bordey and Vince Angelo Ferreras/AOL/RF/VBL, GMA Integrated News