Senate panel subpoenas Alice Guo, family members

The Senate women, children, family relations and gender equality committee on Wednesday ordered the issuance of subpoenas against suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo and her family members.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the panel, made the ruling after the embattled mayor skipped the continuation of the investigation into the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hub in her town on Wednesday.

In her letter of explanation sent to the committee dated June 25,2024, the suspended mayor said she cannot attend and participate in the hearing because she believes that she is "not fit to appear as one of the resource persons to the said inquiry."

"Truth be told, my exposure to prolonged stress and high level of anxiety, owing to the concerning and malicious accusations thrown against me, have adversely affected and caused serious impact on my physical and mental health," Guo said.

"More importantly, I have been exposed to public ridicule, humiliation and hatred for several months now, tarnishing my public image, character and reputation. Unfortunately, I have already been prejudged guilty by the public despite the absence of any finding by the courts of law and proper tribunals," she added.

The embattled mayor apologized to the Senate panel for her absence and for "any inconvenience this may have caused the committee," adding that she has no ill will or slightest intent to disrespect, disregard or disobey the panel.

Guo also mentioned the actions of the Office of the Ombudsman, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) against her.

Hontiveros refuted Guo's explanation, saying the committee believes that the mayor is fit to be their resource person in the investigation.

"Unfortunately, the non-appearance of Mayor Alice Guo is a disregard of the invitation of the committee at kahit may ongoing process sa Office of the Ombudsman, sa BIR o sa PAOCC, hindi 'yan dahilan na hindi siya nagpakita rito," Hontiveros said.

Guo's father, Jian Zhong Guo, her suspected biological mother Lin WenYi, and siblings Shiela, Seimen at Wesley Leal were likewise subpoenaed after they did not appear before the committee.

According to the Senate committee's secretary, invitations for Guo's family members were sent to the mayor's lawyer, but the latter said that he does not represent the entire family.

Meanwhile, Nancy Gamo, the accountant and the person in charge of filing documents for Guo family's businesses, was likewise issued with a subpoena.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian emphasized the relevance of Gamo in the hearing, saying her name has appeared in different POGO companies.

Hontiveros said her office received a sworn statement from Gamo and one of the reasons why she was not able to attend the hearing is because she had seen the committee's invitation late.

But Hontiveros pointed out that this excuse was only for the May 22 hearing.

Guo is at the center of the Senate investigation into the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hub in Bamban after several seized documents showed that she was personally involved in the processing of documents for its operations.

Guo's citizenship was also questioned due to her inconsistent testimonies about her background and the supposed dubious documents regarding her Filipino citizenship.

During the hearing, Hontiveros bared a document from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) showing a picture of another woman with a name Alice Leal Guo who has has the same birthday, July 12, 1986 as the suspended mayor. 

"Is it a coincidence na may dalawang (that there are two) Alice Leal Guo na pinanganak (who were born) on July 12, 1986, sa Tarlac?  Is it a coincidence that this NBI clearance was applied for just a few days before the date of filing of the delayed registration of birth of the other Alice Leal Guo in Tarlac City? Or is this a case of stolen identity?" Hontiveros asked.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Wednesday said it has already endorsed to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) the cancellation of suspended Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo's certificate of live birth (COLB).

—VAL, GMA Integrated News