Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping, will not be able to attend the Senate hearing today, Tuesday, which continues to investigate the operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country.
This information was relayed by the office of Senator Risa Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality.
Guo was not permitted to attend as the court had scheduled a concurrent hearing for the charges brought against her. The Court hearing is set for 8:30 in the morning.
"The request of Gemma Genoveva Tanpiengco, Committee Secretary of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality for this court to allow accused Alice Leal Guo a.k.a "Guo Hua Ping", Jamielyn Santos Cruz, Thelma Barrogo Laranan, Rita Sapnu Yturralde, Rowena Evangelista, and Rachelle Joan Malonzo Carreon to appear before the Senate public hearing on 26 November 2024, at 10:00 o'clock in the morning regarding the ongoing inquiry in aid of legislation being conducted by the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality joint with the Committees on Migrant Workers and Public Order and Dangerous Drugs cannot be granted considering that there is a scheduled hearing on 26 November 2024 at 8:30 o'clock in the morning concerning the cases to which these accused are charged with," the Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 167 order read.
Meanwhile, Shiela Guo is expected to appear before the Senate panel this morning.
It was previously announced by Sen. Hontiveros that this will be the concluding hearing on the POGO investigation.
Moreover, she also claimed that certain government officials are advising POGO operators on how to "disguise" their operations in order to continue their illegal activities.
According to information received by her office, some government officials are advising POGO operators to register their operations as legitimate businesses.
