Alice Guo’s alleged cohorts have surrendered to NBI —Santiago

Seven alleged cohorts of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo have turned themselves in to authorities, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Monday.

At a press conference, NBI Director Jaime Santiago said five surrendered to the NBI Central Luzon while two surrendered to the NBI Task Force Alice Guo.

“Sila ang lumalabas na mga responsible doon sa Hongsheng incorporators at sa Zun Yuan incorporators. Lahat ito ay mga masasabi nating mga bogus corporation ni Alice Guo,” Santiago told reporters.

(It appears that they are responsible as Hongsheng incorporators and Zun Yuan incorporators. We can say that all of these are bogus corporations of Alice Guo.)

Last week, the Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 167 issued warrants of arrest against several of Guo’s co-accused in her qualified trafficking case.

According to a post by GMA Integrated News' John Consulta, four of those who surrendered were subjects of the arrest warrants. The qualified trafficking case is non-bailable.

“Lahat ang claim nila nagamit lang sila. Sabi ko nga sa inyo, ‘yung allegations na ‘yun,  justification nila sa sarili nila, malalabas ‘yan during trial (They all claim that they were used. That allegation is their justification, we will know the truth during the trial),” Santiago said.

One of those who surrendered said the business was legal when she became involved in it, adding that she herself was previously coordinating with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

“‘Yun pong mga documentations and everything, communications ng Zun Yuan Technology ay ako po ay direktang nakikipag-usap sa kanila at ako rin po ang tumatanggap. So there’s no way na sasabihin na kami po ay bogus o ako ay bogus,” she said.

(I personally handled all the documentation and communications of Zun Yuan Technology, and I'm the one who directly talks with them. So, there's no way that we're bogus or that I'm bogus.)

She later clarified that she was speaking for herself and not anyone else.

Meanwhile, Santiago said the NBI will wait for a commitment order from the Pasig court.

“As far as these accused are concerned, the arrest warrants will be returned to the Pasig court and we will wait for the commitment order that will be issued by the Pasig court kung saan sila dadalhin,” Santiago said.

(As far as these accused are concerned, [the arrest warrants] will be returned to the Pasig court and we will wait for the commitment order that will be issued by the Pasig court where they will be brought.)

Earlier, Guo was transferred to the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory from the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City

Guo is also facing a graft case as well as a money laundering complaint.—AOL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News