Bamban Mayor Alice Guo Can Be Star Witness Says Sen. Win Gatchalian
ALICE GUO – Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo can be a star witness against the masterminds of Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGOs) said Sen. Win Gatchalian.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has called on suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo to disclose information about the masterminds behind Philippine offshore gaming operations (Pogos).
He believes that by doing so, she could “reduce her culpability.”
Based on a report from Inquirer, Gatchalian stated on Tuesday that Guo, whose real identity is believed to be Chinese national Guo Hua Ping, should provide critical information regarding the gaming operations, as she is facing multiple charges.
The senator explained that these charges are linked to her alleged involvement with Pogos in her town and the purported falsification of public records.
“I urge Alice Guo to come forward and cooperate with authorities and expose the main players of illegal and criminal offshore gaming operations,” Gatchalian said in a statement.
“To reduce her culpability, she can reveal everything she knows about the operations of both the Bamban Pogo and the Porac Pogo, as the two are interconnected,” he noted.
“Ngayon at maliwanag na ang tunay niyang pagkakakilanlan, patong-patong na kaso ang maaaring isampa laban sa kanya dahil sa kanyang pagsisinungaling at panlilinlang, kaya mas mainam na magsalita na siya,” he suggested.
Guo has come under scrutiny following a Senate investigation that revealed her alleged connections to the Bamban Pogo, which was raided on March 13.
During the raid, operatives from various government agencies rescued 371 Filipinos and 497 foreigners from Pogo, which was allegedly involved in human trafficking.
Most of the Pogo workers were Chinese.
On May 31, the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the preventive suspension without pay of Guo and two other Bamban town officials while an investigation into their alleged wrongdoing is ongoing.