Senate panel subpoenas Alice Guo predecessor ex-Bamban mayor Feliciano

The Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality ordered Tuesday the issuance of subpoenas against former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Jose Antonio Feliciano and others.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada moved for the issuance of the subpoena, noting that Feliciano declined the invite due to a prior commitment.

"According to our committee secretary, Mayor Feliciano declined the invitation because of a prior commitment, and I think that is totally unacceptable to me," Estrada said during the resumption of the hearing.

"I move that we issue a subpoena and if he does not honor the subpoena, issue a warrant of arrest right away," he added.

The committee is looking into the illegal activities of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), including the raided facility in Bamban town. The Senate panel is probing the alleged ties of Feliciano's successor, dismissed mayor Alice Guo, to the POGO enterprise.

Alisel

Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian also moved for the issuance of a subpoena against John Michael Mayrong of the Alisel Fish Farm.

According to the committee secretary, the Senate invited Mayrong but the letter was "refused" as the individuals at the address did not "want to receive it."

"With that unacceptable reason, may I move to subpoena Mr. John Michael Mayorong. He is again the central figure or a central figure to the discussions surrounding the different Alisel corporations," Gatchalian said.

"We saw in the documents that his name is present in the many corporations related to Alisel," he added.

During previous hearings, Senator Risa Hontiveros, the committee chair, presented a certificate from the Department of Trade and Industry showing that Shiela Guo was the owner of the Alisel Aqua Farm in Sual, Pangasinan.

Meanwhile, the Committee secretary said the subpoena to JP Samson, a companion of the dismissed mayor, was received by his driver but no reply was provided.

Gatchalian urged resource persons to attend Senate hearings to give them the chance to air their sides.

"So paalala ko po sa ating mga resource persons na itong mga hearing na ganito na isang pagkakataon ito para mabigay nila 'yung kanilang nalalaman at tumulong sa committee makahanap ng katotohanan," he said.

(Let me remind our resource persons that these hearings provide an opportunity for them to share their knowledge and assist the committee in uncovering the truth.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News