THE Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) yesterday said it is conducting an investigation into reports that dismissed Bambang, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo is indeed a Chinese spy.

PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz made the remarks after a detained Chinese spy, She Zhijiang, claimed in a recent Al Jazeera documentary that Guo is also a Chinese spy.

She, who is detained in Thailand, claimed he began his spy work in the Philippines in 2016, adding he worked with Guo under China’s Ministry of State Security. He said Guo is a full-blooded Chinese.

“We need to investigate that. As far as the reports that Alice Guo (is a Chinese spy), we will check it with our counterparts from the AFP and with our foreign counterparts,” Cruz told a radio interview.

“We will have to check if there are documents pertaining to that spy issue,” said Cruz, adding they would validate the claims of She.

Last May, allegations of Guo being a Chinese spy surfaced when she attended the initial Senate hearing on the illegal activities of the POGO hub in Bamban. She has denied this, adding she is a Filipino and loves the Philippines,

Cruz said he had initial discussions with other PAOCC officials and reached a consensus to look into the latest report about Guo’s status as a Chinese spy.

“We don’t know if he (She) is telling the truth or he is just making propaganda. But the issue is we need to investigate because this is a big issue, her being a spy, if it’s true she is a spy,” said Cruz.

“This means that we (the Philippines) have been infiltrated by such persons,” Cruz said, referring to Chinese spies.

‘PROOF NEEDED’

Senate majority leader Francis Tolentino said the allegation that Guo is a Chinese spy remains an allegation without proof to back the claim.

Excerpts of the Al Jazeera documentary on She Zhijiang were shown during the House of Representatives quad committee investigation on illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators last Friday.

“We do not have jurisdiction over whoever that person is now in Thailand. Second, we do not know his basis for saying that,” Tolentino said in an interview with radio dzBB, adding the video has yet to be authenticated.

While the accusation is “alarming,” he said the allegation needs proof.

“It is alarming but again, as of now, and I’m not protecting her, all accusations must be based on evidence, if she is on the list of that person in Thailand. Maybe it’s better if we can invite that person here so we can have a hearing or maybe the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok can ask authorities to allow him to go to our embassy where we can probably conduct a hearing. Otherwise, that video remains as such,” Tolentino said.

He said he would try to extract information once they hold another executive session with Guo.

Guo denied in last Friday’s inquiry that she is a Chinese spy, adding it is best to ask She about his motive or reason for his allegations.

Tolentino said maybe the Department of Justice can ask the Chinese Embassy in Manila for comment.

In the Al Jazeera documentary, She said: “Guo Hua Ping, China cannot be trusted. The two of us dedicated our lives to China’s Ministry of State Security. Look what happened to me. If you don’t want to be eliminated, tell the world the whole truth.”

The video also claimed that Guo’s mother was Lin Wen Yi, and Guo was born in Fujian province.

Guo denied knowing She and denied all the allegations.

“Hindi po ako spy. Mahal ko po ang Pilipinas (I am not a spy. I love the Philippines),” she said.

“Hindi ko siya kilala, at sana po your honor, Mr. Chairman, makuha ko rin po ‘yung details. Gusto ko pong mag-demanda (I don’t know him, and Mr. Chairman, maybe I can have the details because I want to file charges,” Guo said.