NBI: Guo signatures on counter affidavit, Senate attendance don't match

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) found that the signatures of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo in her counter affidavit and attendance sheet during a recent Senate hearing do not match, GMA Integrated News' John Consulta reported Wednesday.

Based on the scientific comparative examination conducted, the signatures "were not written by one and the same person," the NBI said.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago relayed the information in a letter Wednesday to Senator Risa Hontiveros, chair of the Senate panel leading the investigation into Guo's alleged links to criminal activities of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

He wrote that the analysis was done in compliance with the directive of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, which Hontiveros chairs.

Consulta reported that for this examination, the NBI analyzed the Senate attendance sheet on Sept. 9 and Guo's counter affidavit on the human trafficking case filed against her.

Guo earlier said that she signed the last page of the document, which was notarized by lawyer Elmer Galicia, before she left the Philippines in July.

The document was dated Aug. 14.

Asked if she read the details of her counter affidavit, Guo invoked her right against self-incrimination.

Guo admitted this after Hontiveros presented a sworn affidavit of one "Ka Dante" who supposedly helped Guo's staff in the process of notarizing her counter-affidavit.

According to Ka Dante, he headed to Galicia's law office in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan at around 12:15 p.m. on Aug. 14, but the lawyer told him that the document cannot be notarized without Guo's presence.

Documents obtained by Consulta showed the NBI Questioned Documents Division findings, which stated that: "Scientific comparative examinations of the specimens submitted under magnification using stereoscopic microscope, magnifying lens, forensic image analyzer and with the aid of photographic enlargements reveal significant fundamental differences in handwriting characteristics, habits, existing between the questioned and the standard/ specimen signatures ALICE LEAL GUO such as in: structural formation of elements; manner of execution."

‘Professional scam artist’ 

Hontiveros described Guo as a “professional scam artist.” 

“Her entire identity is built on lies [...] Isa na namang kasinungalingan na dagdag sa patong patong na kasinungalingan,” she said in a statement. 

(Her entire identity is built on lies [...] This is another lie on top of other lies.) 

The senator added that Guo’s lawyer should also be held responsible. 

“Mananagot dapat hindi lang ang kliyente pero ang kanyang abogado. Sana imbestigahan ito hindi lang ng DOJ pero ng Integrated Bar of the Philippines,” said Hontiveros. 

(Her lawyer should be held accountable for this. I hope the DOJ and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines will investigate this.) 

“But again, the bigger question is: who helped facilitate this? Who aided her escape?” she added. 

Meanwhile, Senator Joel Villanueva said that he was not surprised by the NBI's findings. 

“Not surprising at all. What do we expect from these criminals who have been lying to us from the very start? [...] Panahon na para panagutin siya at ang kanyang mga kasama sa batas (It’s time for her and her cohorts to be punished by law), ” he said in a statement. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/VDV/VBL, GMA Integrated News