Mayor Alice Guo has issued an official statement amid the ongoing controversy involving a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hub in Bamban, Tarlac.

The controversy arose after a Senate investigation linked illegal activities to the POGO hub located behind the Bamban Municipal Hall.

In her statement, Guo said she does not have any involvement in the illegal operations of POGO and is not a spy for any country.

“Wala po akong kinalaman sa ilegal na operasyon ng POGO sa Baofu Compound na sakop ng aming munisipyo, at hindi rin po ako espiya ng alinmang bansa kagaya ng ibinibintang, o kaya ay iniisip ng ilang politiko na misteryo sa aking pagkakakilanlan,” her statement read.

ON POGO

Guo said she did not receive reports about illegal activities within the compound operated by Zun Yuan Technology, Inc. before it was raided by authorities in March 2024.

Over 800 Filipino and foreign workers were rescued during the raid. The hub was suspected of being involved in a “love scam.”

According to Guo, she granted local government permission for Zun Yuan’s business to operate after the company presented documents showing they were licensed by the national government through the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

“Bahagi po ng aking sinumpaang tungkulin ang pagkakaloob ng serbisyo sa mamamayan ng Bamban, kasama rito ang anomang lehitimong pangkabuhayan para sa aming nasasakupan 'tulad ng maayos na trabaho, na siyang dahilan kung bakit ibinigay ko ang pahintulot ng lokal na pamahalaan para sa pagtayo ng negosyo ng Zun Yuan matapos magpakita ang nasabing kompanya ng dokumento na sila ay lisensiyado ng gobyerno-nasyunal sa pamamagitan ng PAGCOR,” she said.

“Mahigit 200 pamilya po sa aming maliit na munisipyo ang nagkaroon ng trabaho sa POGO hub, na kahit papaano'y medyo napag-aabot na nila ang mga pang-araw-araw na pangangailangan,” she added.

IDENTITY

Guo's identity has also come under scrutiny during the Senate investigation. 

According to GMA Integrated News Research, Guo’s certificate of candidacy in October 2021 states she was born in 1986 in Tarlac and has resided in Bamban for over 18 years.

Guo said she’s sorry for the confusion she may have caused during the Senate hearings.

“…patawad na rin po sa mga senador na pilit akong inuunawa at binibigyan ng pagkakataong ipakilala ang aking pagkatao — kagaya ng magulang,  pinag-aralan at iba pang may kaugnayan sa aking identity o pagkakakilanlan, pero tila po ay nabigo silang marinig ang para sa kanila ay ang tumpak at makabuluhang tugon,” she said.

Guo revealed that she is a love child of her father and their housemaid, and was abandoned by her biological mother at a young age.

"Ako po'y isang love child ng mahal kong ama sa aming kasambahay na ako po ay iniwan ng aking biological mother bata pa ako noon, at ako'y pinalaki at itinatago sa loob ng isang farm," she said

She said she was raised and hidden on a hog raising farm, away from normal social interactions, and received home tutoring.

“Totoo po ang sinabi ko sa Senado na home tutoring lang po ang edukasyon ko, na wala akong papel o diploma ng isang pormal na edukasyon [sa] kahit anumang baitang,” Guo said.

She said she only learned of her mother’s name when her birth certificate was registered as a teenager.

The questions about her identity during the Senate hearing were traumatic for her, she said.

“Yan po ang mga tanong na ayaw ko na pong mabuksan, na sana ay mayroon akong mga sagot na makapagpaparamdam sa akin na ako'y isang normal din na nilalang,” Guo said.

“Ang pag-iwas ko rin pong magsinungaling sa aking mga sagot ay sanhi ng pagmamahal ko at  pag-aalala sa mahal kong ama. Sa kanyang edad na 70 ay ayaw ko na pong makaladkad siya sa aking pinagdaraanan,” Guo added.

Guo said she still longs to find her real mother and feel her true care.

“Sana nga po ay lumitaw na ang tunay kong ina at kanyang akuin ang pagluwal sa akin upang matigil na po ang mga pagdududa na ako’y isang espiya,” she said.

Guo said she did not choose to marry, even at the age of 38, because of her imperfect identity, and, instead, chose to dedicate her time to public service.

Guo closed her statement reaffirming her dedication to Bamban and her Filipino identity, and thanked those who continue to support her.

“Bilang pangwakas ay uulitin ko na ako'y isang tunay na Pilipino... sa puso, sa isip at sa gawa, at sa aking mga kababayan na nagpamalas ng mainit na suporta ngayong nasa gitna ako ng kontrobersiya... maraming salamat po,” she said.