Gatchalian wants Mayor Guo expelled from NPC: ‘She’s connected to Pogo’

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Sherwin Gatchalian wants embattled Bamban Mayor Alice Guo expelled from the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), citing her alleged links to illegal offshore gaming operations in the country.

Guo ran as an independent candidate in the 2022 elections but later joined the NPC after winning the mayoral race in Bamban, Tarlac, party chairman and former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III earlier disclosed.

As part of NPC’s advisory council, Gatchalian said he would want Guo expelled from the group.

“Ako, personally, from what I’m seeing and this is my personal take, na ma-expel sya sa NPC because connected sya sa Pogo (Philippine offshore gaming operator),” he said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay on Wednesday.

(Personally, from what I’m seeing, and this is my personal take, that she should  be expelled from the NPC because she’s connected to Pogo.)

“And yung kanyang birth certificate is irregular and also invalid because of the source of information,” he noted.

(And her birth certificate is irregular and invalid due to the questionable source of information.)

Sotto, in a Viber message, said NPC would have to wait for the formal proposal to evict Guo from NPC.

An ongoing probe in the Senate has exposed Guo’s alleged ties to Hongsheng Gaming Technology Incorporated after supposedly facilitating its application for local permits.

Hongsheng was raided in  February 2023 but continued its operations after changing its name to Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated, which was also raided last March 13.

During the March raid, authorities found a billing statement of Zun Yuan and a vehicle registered under the mayor’s name as earlier disclosed by Gatchalian.

But for Gatchalian, Guo’s Letter of No Objection to the business operations of Hongsheng showed her direct connection to the Pogo firm.

“So, hindi natin pwedeng tanggalin na wala syang connection dun kasi  sya yung nag apply,” the senator pointed out.

It is for this reason that he wants Guo out of NPC.

“Nakikita ko dyan, it will set a bad precedent and it’s not the type of members that we want for our party,” he said.

“Ang importante, mga members namin, mataas ang kanilang  integridad, good moral conduct at importante rin na hindi nasasangkot sa mga ganitong kriminalidad,” Gatchalian added.

(What is important is that our members have high integrity, good moral conduct and are not involved in any criminal activities.)

Guo has repeatedly denied all allegations against her.

NOTE: The English translations in the article were AI-generated.