‘OBEY FIRST, SHOW YOURSELF’ Senate President Francis Escudero on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, dismisses the letter of apology submitted by suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo to the Senate. Escudero, in a press briefing, said Guo did not indicate in her letter whether or not she would attend the next hearing being conducted by the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality. The Senate chief said he could not accept Guo’s request “until she shows up and obeys the Senate.” (Photo from Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Francis Escudero on Tuesday said it is “embarrassing” that the Philippine National Police (PNP) has yet to locate suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo and fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy.
In an ambush interview, Escudero was asked whether or not it’s unfortunate and embarrassing that the PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have yet to find Guo.
“Is she the only one?” Escudero asked.
A reporter responded, saying the PNP has yet to locate Quiboloy, who earlier admitted that he had been hiding.
“That’s what I’m saying. Aren’t there also others who were accused of more serious crimes and cases that have yet to be nabbed? My answer is yes, it’s embarrassing. It’s embarrassing for the PNP that they cannot do this, especially since the Bureau of Immigration confirmed that they are still in the country,” Escudero said in Filipino.
However, the Senate leader explained that it was not a reason to lower the PNP and NBI budgets.
“Only more that they won’t be able to locate the others. Again, it’s not a carrot and stick — you punish them when something goes wrong or when the budget isn’t used up. We need to look at all the circumstances surrounding this,” he added in Filipino.
Escudero, however, made it clear that this will surely be brought up during the budget deliberations.
The Senate earlier issued an arrest order against Guo and seven others for refusing to appear at the committee on women’s hearing last July 10.
READ: Guo sighted in Bulacan; law enforcers urged to arrest mayor in a month
The document stated that Guo’s refusal to appear before the Senate panel “delayed, impeded, and obstructed” the inquiry into the reported human trafficking, serious illegal detention, and physical abuse and torture in the premises of an internet gaming licensee of the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation.
Guo is subjected to scrutiny after the Senate panel on women bared her alleged ties to raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator Zun Yuan Technology Inc. in Bamban, Tarlac.
Questions about her citizenship were also raised, leading to allegations that she was a Chinese spy, which she vehemently denied.
Quiboloy, on the other hand, is facing two arrest orders from the Davao and Pasig courts.
The Supreme Court, however, granted the Department of Justice’s bid to transfer Quiboloy’s sexual abuse case from a court in Davao to a court in Quezon City to avoid a miscarriage of justice.
The Senate panel on women, headed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, is also seeking Quiboloy’s arrest.
READ: ‘Excessive, unnecessary force’ used in bid to get Quiboloy – Ex-Pres. Duterte