Guo on kin: We’re not Pogo protectors; ‘love me before you thwart me’

NO LIMIT After initially saying the burden of proof lies upon the accusers of Alice Guo(center), Senate President Francis Escudero said that Sen. Risa Hontiveros can hold as many committee hearings as she wants to get to the truth about the Bamban, Tarlac mayor’s citizenship. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA,  Philippines — Suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo on Wednesday moved to clear her name and that of her family from any illegal activities in the country.

Guo also denied that her father’s Chinese partner, Lin Wen Yi, is her  biological mother.

“May mga nagsasabing si Lin Wen Yi ang tunay kong ina. Sya ay kasama sa mga kumpanya ng aming pamilya, ngunit si Amelia Leal ang aking ina sa lahat ng dokumento,” she said in her letter to Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday.

(Some say that Lin Wen Yi is my real mother. She is involved in our family’s businesses, but on all documents, it is stated that Amelia Leal is my mother.)

“Hindi totoo ang paratang na si Amelia Leal ay isang non-existing person. Si Lin Wen Yi ay kinakasama at isang business partner ng aking ama. Hindi sya ang aking ina,” she stressed.

(The accusation that Amelia Leal is a non-existing person is not true. Lin Wen Yi is my father’s companion and business partner. She is not my mother.)

The mayor earlier claimed she was a lovechild of her Chinese father, Angelito, and Leal, a Filipina house help.

It was Senator Sherwin Gatchalian who first raised the possibility that Guo’s mother is Lin, and not Leal.

He noted that Lin’s name appeared in the financial statements of Guo’s family. 

Following this, Hontiveros released government records showing Lin’s name as one of the incorporators in at least seven businesses of Guo’s family.

Guo also defended her father from any accusations that he could be involved in illegal activities.

As a businessman, she said, her father frequently travels abroad to take care of his businesses.

“Wala syang kinalaman sa mga Pogo activities o anumang ilegal na gawain,” she said.

(She has no involvement in Pogo activities or any illegal activities whatsoever.)

“Ang kanyang pangunahing negosyo ay ang embroidery na matagal nang itinatag dito sa Pilipinas,” she pointed out.

(His main business is embroidery, which has been established here in the Philippines a long time ago.)

The mayor likewise insisted she is not connected with any Pogos.

“Hindi po ako protector ng Pogo. Wala po akong kinalaman sa murder, prostitution, human trafficking, love scam, money laundering at iba pang cyber crimes. Hindi po ako nagnakaw,” Guo insisted.

(I am not a protector of Pogo. I have no involvement in murder, prostitution, human trafficking, love scams, money laundering and other cybercrimes. I have not stolen anything.)

“Ang nais ko lang po sana ay ako ay inyong pakinggan bago husgahan. Mahalin bago nyo biguin,” she said.

(All I ask is that you listen to me before passing judgment. Love me before you thwart me.)

“Pilipino ako. Inihalal din katulad po ninyo. May dangal at pagkatao,” she added.

(I am Filipino. I was also elected just like you. I have dignity and honor.)

Documents supposedly linking her to Hongsheng Gaming Technology Incorporated were uncovered during the ongoing investigation of the Senate committee on women headed by Hontiveros.

The Pogo firm was raided in February 2023 but its operations allegedly continued after changing its name to Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated, up to the time it was 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.

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

But in the letter, Guo explained that she only helped Hongsheng as a lessor of Baofu Land Development Inc.

“Hindi ko sinadyang  maging kinatawan nila sa lokal na pamahalaan ng Bamban. Isa lang akong interpreter noong unang beses silang nagpresenta. Hindi ako nagharap ng anumang dokumento para sa kanila,” she said,

(I did not intend to become their representative in the local government of Bamban. I was just an interpreter the first time they presented. I did not present any documents for them.)

In the case of  Zun Yuan, Guo said she only issued a provisional license in 2023 after the company completed all the required documents.

“Siniguro ko na lahat ng proseso ay sinunod at walang nilabag na batas,” she said.

(I made sure that all processes were followed and no laws were violated.)

Pending investigation, Guo and two others have been placed under a six-month preventive suspension without pay by the Office of the Ombudsman.

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