Senate might wrap up hearings on Alice Guo - Jinggoy

The Senate might wrap up this week the hearings on dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo and her alleged link to illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) activities in the country, said Senate Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada on Monday.

“I think that will be the last hearing,” said Estrada, noting the senators failed to get all the information they needed from the captured former public official.

The supposed last hearing is scheduled on Tuesday, September 24.

Estrada admitted it was frustrating to get a response from Guo after nearly four months of investigation by the Senate Committee on  Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality.

“If she continues to invoke her right against self incrimination we cannot do anything about it, but as far as we’re concerned we are not asking incriminating questions, far from the cases filed against her,” he added.

Guo last attended a Senate hearing into illegal POGOs on September 9. For the second time, the Senate panel cited her in contempt for allegedly continuing to lie before the senators.

Estrada reiterated that Guo did not give any good reasons for her to be granted an executive session.

“Eh hindi pa naman siya nagpapakita ng proof of life. Wala pa naman siyang sinasabing katotohanan doon sa hearing. How can we expect her to tell the truth in an executive session?” he said.

(There’s no proof of life from her. He has yet to tell any truths during the hearings. How can we expect her to tell the truth in an executive session?)

Senators earlier rejected the appeal of Guo’s camp for an executive session to discreetly disclose information relevant to her alleged ties to POGOs, noting that she must convince the upper chamber that she will divulge valuable information to the probe.

Further, Estrada said that the Senate wanted to further delve into the possible relationship between Guo and Sual, Pangasinan Mayor Liseldo "Dong" Calugay.

“I don’t care about the romantic relationship. What we do care about is their partnership that might be used for money laundering activities,” he said.

Calugay and Guo previously denied that they are romantically invested in each other after senators presented photos of them together.

Senator Risa Hontiveros earlier revealed five farm business registrations, which she believed were named after Guo and Calugay: AC Aqua Farm, Dee Aqua Farm, Licsel Fish Farm, Donguo Fish Farm, Guco Aqua Farm.

Estrada said that Calugay could be involved in a syndicate.

“Kasi this, itong si Mayor Calugay may be a part of a criminal syndicate. Halos lahat kasi ng kanyang mga activities ay panay illegal,” he said.

(Mayor Calugay may be part of a criminal syndicate. Because most of his activities are illegal.)

“If they have enough, sufficient evidence against him kailangan talagang kasuhan. Dapat talaga imbestigahan ng gobyerno yung kanilang mga yung mga kompanya nila, kung nagbabayad talaga sila ng tamang buwis,” he added.

(If they have enough evidence against him, then he should be sued. The government should really look into their companies, especially if they are properly paying their taxes.)

The dismissed mayor left the country in July despite a hold departure order from the Department of Justice. Guo was apprehended in Indonesia and brought back to the Philippines on September 6. 

Guo was detained at the PNP Custodial Center and will be transferred to the Pasig City Jail. —RF, GMA Integrated News