SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian yesterday urged suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo to cooperate with proper authorities and disclose crucial information about the activities and key players of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators “to reduce her culpability.”
He said that after Guo was unmasked by the National Bureau of Investigation as a Chinese masquerading as a Filipino last week, she can at least lessen her accountability if she tells what she knows about POGO operations.
Guo’s camp has remained mum since last week.
“I urge Alice Guo to come forward and cooperate with authorities and expose the main players of illegal and criminal offshore gaming operations. 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,” Gatchalian said.
Guo faces charges of qualified human trafficking, a non-bailable offense, by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission for her alleged involvement in the two POGO hubs.
The Office of the Solicitor General is set to file a quo warranto case against Guo after the NBI found out that her fingerprints matched that of Guo Hua Ping, the 13-year-old girl who entered the country in January 2003, meaning they are one and the same person.
The Commission on Elections is also mulling to file an election offense against Guo.
Gatchalian said Guo is in a position to reveal what she knows about POGO operations “given her links” to the Bamban and Porac hubs.
Authorities earlier said the POGO officials who operated the Bamban hub were the same persons who ran the Porac facility.
Both POGO facilities were raided after the PAOCC received information that they were being used as a cover for human trafficking, money laundering, torture, and scamming activities, among others.
Authorities also said the Bamban hub may have been used to surveil the activities of government agencies.
Gatchalian said Guo’s testimony is expected to significantly aid law enforcement and regulatory bodies in their efforts to dismantle these illegal operations and bring those responsible to justice.
“Guo can play a crucial role in exposing the truth and ensuring that those involved are held accountable,” he added.
Gatchalian earlier said the recent statement made by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. that a former Cabinet official has lobbied for the approval of POGO licenses later raided is proof that high government officials are linked to the gaming industry.
PAGCOR chief Alejandro Tengco said he would reveal the identity of the former government official in the proper forum.
Senate deputy minority leader Risa Hontiveros said she hoped that Tengco would attend the next scheduled committee hearing on July 10, where the PAGCOR chief can reveal the identity of the former Cabinet official.
‘FRUITFUL DISCUSSION’
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, also the PAOCC chairman, said he had a “fruitful” discussion with Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian last Monday and agreed to explore ways to strengthen their partnership against transnational crimes.
“China expressed its appreciation for the recent actions taken by Philippine law enforcement authorities to counter illegal offshore gaming and to rescue several Chinese nationals. The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines has been actively collaborating and maintaining open communication channels with their Philippine counterparts through this process,” the PAOCC said in a statement.
“The strengthened cooperation between China and the Philippines sends a clear message to criminal syndicates operating across borders that their malicious activities will not be tolerated nor allowed to undermine the security and stability of these nations. It also paves the way for the exchange of expertise, intelligence sharing, and collaborations, enabling the authorities on both sides to effectively disrupt and dismantle criminal networks,” it added.
QUO WARRANTO PETITION
The Office of the Solicitor General said a quo warranto would be filed against Mayor Guo this month.
Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said they are collating additional evidence.
“The OSG will file two separate petitions this month, including quo warranto. We’re just waiting for certified copies of our documentary evidence from official sources,” Guevarra said in a Viber message when sought for an update on the issue.
Guevarra earlier said his office had formed a team to determine if Guo is “ineligible” to hold public office.
Under Rule 66 of the Rules of Court, the Solicitor General or a public prosecutor may initiate the filing of a quo warranto proceedings upon the orders of the President or upon his or her initiative.
Guevarra said a quo warranto petition is an exclusive power by the OSG to remove a public official who it deems is holding their position unlawfully because they are unqualified or ineligible for the position.
In an interview on Teleradyo, Guevarra said the findings by the NBI that the fingerprints of Guo and Guo Hua Ping, a Chinese who entered the country in 2003, are the same is a “breakthrough” in the issue. — With Ashzel Hachero
