‘Sick, stressed’ Alice Guo skips Senate panel’s Pogo probe

Suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo (INQUIRER file photo / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE)

MANILA, Philippines — Suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo is skipping the Senate panel on women’s Wednesday hearing on the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos).

An official guest list provided by the Senate panel showed that the embattled mayor would be absent from the probe.

In a text message to INQUIRER.net, Atty. Stephen David, Guo’s legal counsel, explained why she would not attend the public hearing.

“She is not feeling okay. She is sick and stressed,” said David.

Guo has been scrutinized after the Senate committee on women bared her alleged ties to Zun Yuan Technology Inc., an illegal Pogo hub in Bamban.

Guo, however, repeatedly denied all accusations against her, including being an alleged spy of China.

Earlier, the Office of the Ombudsman placed Guo under a six-month preventive suspension without pay over her alleged ties to  Pogo operations, and there were questions concerning her citizenship.

 A non-bailable offense of qualified human trafficking was also filed before the Department of Justice against Guo over her “link” to illegal Pogo.