Tolentino: Video tagging Alice Guo as China spy to be raised in executive session

Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo will be questioned in the next executive session at the Senate regarding an Al Jazeera report linking her to spying for China, Senator Francis Tolentino said Sunday. 

Tolentino was referring to the international news channel's interviewing a certain She Zhijiang, who is linked to scam sites involved in human trafficking and forced labor. Currently detained in Thailand, She is said to be a Chinese spy and fearing for his life if he is to be returned to China.

“Baka sa part two tanungin ko ‘yan, anong masasabi mo do’n sa video. Although kung ano man ‘yun do’n, ‘yung rules of admissibility sa ating husgado ay baka hindi naman ma-authenticate natin ‘yung video kasi wala naman dito kung sino man ‘yun, nasa Thailand,” the senator said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview. 

(In part two of the executive session, I may ask Guo about that video. However, the rules of admissibility in our court may not be able to authenticate the video because She is not here in the Philippines, but is in Thailand.) 

“But again, it can open up a discussion kung ano ‘yung mapapag-usapan. I will raise that during executive session at kung ano man ang sagot, hindi ko rin naman pwedeng sabihin sa inyo,” he added. 

(But again, whatever will be revealed in the executive session can open up a discussion. I will raise that during an executive session but whatever the answer will be, I won’t be able to tell you.) 

The documentary which was played before the House QuadComm inquiry on Friday showed jailed tycoon She’s explosive allegations about Chinese spies and an international conspiracy. 

In the interview from behind bars, he revealed that he was a Chinese spy and one of those secrets involved Guo. He said he used his handler’s mobile phone to contact Guo Hua Ping, or Alice Guo, in the Philippines. 

Guo also allegedly asked him to fund her political campaign. 

“Guo Huaping, China cannot be trusted. The two of us dedicated our lives to China's Ministry of State Security. Look at what happened to me," the report translated She as saying.

"If you don't want to be eliminated, tell the world the truth," he added.

In response, Guo vehemently denied that she was a Chinese spy. 

Tolentino admitted that the documentary was “alarming,” but explained that it will only be treated as a mere video if there is no evidence to prove it. 

“Alarming kung alarming. But again, sa ngayon, ‘di sa pinagtatanggol ko siya, [pero] lahat base dapat sa ebidensya. Kung ano ang ebidensya na naka-lista ba siya do’n sa kung sino man ang nasa Thailand,” the senator said.

(It’s alarming. But again, right now, it's not that I'm defending Guo, but everything should be based on evidence. We need evidence to prove if she is linked with that person detained in Thailand.) 

“Mas maganda mapapunta natin ‘yung taga Thailand dito or makapag-hearing kami sa Philippine Embassy sa Bangkok. Patawag ‘yung nasa Thailand na ‘yun at magkaron ng hurisdiksyon. Otherwise, video lang ‘yun.”

(It would be better if we could have the person from Thailand come here or if we could have a hearing at the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok. We can summon this person who is in Thailand and have a jurisdiction. Otherwise, it's just only a video.) 

Tolentino also believes that Guo has yet to reveal other more vital information in the next executive session which is set to continue this incoming week.

Last Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality conducted the first executive session with Guo to allow her to divulge details that she refused to disclose during the public hearing.

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros said that Guo corroborated the panel's theory involving a "crucial personality" in the operations of illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country during the executive session. — BM, GMA Integrated News