Bamban mayor’s background dubious, says Hontiveros

Bamban Mayor Alice Guo RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday sounded the alarm over Bamban Mayor Alice Guo’s supposedly “dubious” legal status, maintaining that the local official has repeatedly told lies during the chamber’s investigation on her supposed link to a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo).

“She lied. There were several questions where she lied. The very stark and shocking example was the fact that she denied having a connection with Hong Sheng when it was already indicated in the document from the municipal government that she is the current head,” Hontiveros told reporters in a press conference on Wednesday.

READ: Bamban mayor denies ties to raided Pogo firm in Tarlac

Controversies surrounding Pogos

The Senate panel on women, headed by Hontiveros, conducted on Tuesday an investigation into the controversies surrounding Pogos. Among the resource persons during the probe was Guo who repeatedly denied involvement in Pogos.

READ: PAOCC links Pogos to various crimes

“I am not connected with Pogo, I am not an operator, and I am not a protector of Pogo. I am not related to any operation or activities within or outside Pogos, said Guo then.

The panel’s Tuesday hearing bared that Guo was homeschooled and that there had been a delay in the registration of her birth.

Both of these information do not seem suspicious at first, but Hontiveros pointed out that Guo couldn’t even name her homeschool provider, adding that there is no hospital record of Guo’s birth as she only got registered when she was already 17.

“It catches one’s attention especially because based on our research, there is a similar modus operandi wherein foreigners enter into certain countries. Eventually, they pretend to be locals and then do various tasks  — some of which are not desirable,” said Hontiveros.

Is she Chinese?

Hontiveros, in the same press conference, proceeded to question Guo’s real nationality. The opposition lawmaker said it is important to know Guo’s background because even some Bamban dwellers are claiming that the name “Alice Guo” just magically appeared during the 2022 elections.

“[Guo] was catapulted to power in a small town in Tarlac, but does she have the public records that will strongly establish her identity as a Filipino national?,” said Hontiveros.

“Is it true that Guo may in fact be Chinese?,” she asked.

Hontiveros said it would be extremely alarming should it be proven that Guo was a Chinese national. Asked why, the opposition lawmaker said it would mean that illegal schemes involving similar cases have already leveled up.