Escudero ensures security for Guo, others issued with Senate arrest order

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Monday guaranteed the security of suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo and others issued with arrest orders within the Senate premises.

"Ginagarantiya ng Senado kung sinoman ang dadakpin para idetina sa Senado ang seguridad ninoman, kabilang siya (Mayor Guo)," Escudero said in a chance interview.

(The Senate guarantees the security of anyone who will be arrested to be detained in our premises, including her.)

According to Escudero, the detention facilities for Guo and other individuals were already prepared in case of their arrests.

"Na-identify na namin ni General Ancan ang pagdedetinahan, hindi lamang sa kanya, uulitin ko, sa iba pang inisyuhan ng warrant of arrest ng Senado," he said. He was referring to Senate Sergeant-at-Arms retired Lieutenant General Roberto Ancan.

(General Ancan and I have already identified the detention facilities not only for Mayor Guo, but also the others who were issued with arrest orders.)

In an ambush interview later in the day, Escudero said he sees no reason for Guo to cite security concerns.

"Wala akong nakikitang rason sa totoo lang, hindi ko alam kung saan nanggagaling yung sinasabi niyang banta ‘di umano laban sa kanyang buhay," he said.

The Senate president also informed Senate Sergeant-at-Arms retired General Roberto Ancan about the possible coordination of the latter's office with other law enforcement agencies to implement the arrest order against Guo and other individuals.

"Pinagbigay alam ko na sa kanya na kung kinakailangan na makipag-ugnayan na rin siya sa NBI at iba pang mga law enforcement agencies para ma-implement yung warrant na inisyu ng Senado sa ilang mga testigo para matiyak ang kanilang pag-attend sa hearing," he said.

He clarified that the detention of those ordered arrested is not a "punishment for the commission of any crime" but to force them to testify before the Senate.

An air-conditioned detention facility near the Philippine National Police (PNP) office inside the Senate is already prepared for Guo and her relatives' possible arrest, he said.

Over the weekend, the Senate released the arrest orders against Guo and seven other individuals for "unduly refusing" to appear before the investigation into the raided POGO hubs in Bamban, Tarlac.

Guo skipped the Senate investigation twice, citing her mental and physical health conditions.

Of those who were ordered arrested, only Nancy Jimenez Gamo, Guo's accountant, was found. Gamo underwent a medical checkup on Saturday after she was brought to the Senate in Pasay City, where she will stay pending the resumption of the Senate inquiry into the raided POGO hub in Bamban.

The Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality is investigating Guo's supposed involvement in the illegal POGO hub that was raided in her own town.

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

But Guo has denied involvement in illegal POGO activities and maintained that she is a Filipino citizen.

The National Bureau of Investigation recently confirmed that Guo and Chinese passport holder Guo Hua Ping have the same fingerprints. —KG, GMA Integrated News