Guo’s ties with crime gangs ‘backed’ by ‘concrete evidence’ – Gatchalian

Suspended Mayor Alice Guo’s link to criminal syndicates in Bamban, Tarlac seemed to be supported by “concrete evidence” as discovered during an executive session of the Senate panel investigating her, according to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian (left). Gatchalian disclosed this information during the Kapihan sa Senado forum on Thursday, June 6, 2024, although he declined to divulge specifics. | PHOTOS: Senate PRIB and INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Suspended Mayor Alice Guo’s link to criminal syndicates in Bamban, Tarlac seemed to be supported by “concrete evidence” as discovered during an executive session of the Senate panel investigating her.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian disclosed this information during the Kapihan sa Senado forum on Thursday, although he declined to divulge specifics.

“Without going into the details pero lumalabas na merong kongkretong ebidensya na may link siya sa mga criminal syndicate na nag-organize nitong Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator sa Bamban. So meron siyang link dito sa mga organized crime,” he said.

(Without going into the details but it appears that there is concrete evidence that she has a link to criminal syndicates that organized this Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator in Bamban. So she has links to these organized crimes.)

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

According to Gatchalian, there is existing data showing that Guo herself is actively participating in efforts to connect Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos) to different agencies.

“Again, ‘di ko na madedetalye, pero base sa briefing namin sa executive session, siya mismo ay may active participation na mabuo ‘yung kanyang connection sa iba’t-ibang ahensya,” he said.

(Again, I cannot give details, but based on our briefing during the executive session, she, herself, has active participation to complete their connection with different agencies.)

‘Deep’ connections in gov’t and crime syndicates

Gatchalian, in the same forum, said shivers ran down his spine the moment government intelligence offices confirming that Pogos’ roots have gone too entrenched – that they even influence enforcement agencies.

READ: I am not a spy – Bamban Mayor Alice Guo

“Malalim. Ibig sabihin ang kanilang impluwensya ay umaabot na sa mga politiko, umaabot na sa mga enforcement agencies tulad ng kapulisan, Bureau of Immigration, at pangatlo meron silang binanggit doon na pati ‘yung mga local criminal syndicates ay nakakasama na nila,”he said.

(It’s deep. It means their influence have already reached politicians, enforcement agencies like the police, Bureau of Immigration, and, thirdly, they have mentioned during the session that they even go along with criminal syndicates.)

Gatchalian noted that while organized crimes are inevitable in the country, he lamented that the ends of these criminals and Pogos have now met.

Guo has been the subject of scrutiny after the Senate committee on women bared her alleged ties with Zun Yuan Technology, an illegal Pogo hub in Bamban, Tarlac.

The suspended mayor has repeatedly denied all allegations, insisting that she is just a simple Filipino citizen.