Senator Risa Hontiveros, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, expressed frustration after a recent hearing where dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo was evasive in response to pertinent questions.
"Kung dati, 'hindi ko po alam, your honor' ang paulit-ulit na sagot ni Guo Hua Ping, noong hearing naman kahapon palagi namang 'I invoke my right against self-incrimination' ang bagong tactic," Hontiveros said during an exclusive interview with DZRH's Damdaming Bayan on Tuesday.
"Hindi nga maamin na siya si Guo Hua Ping kahit nasa harap na ng mata niya ‘yung mga thumbprint ng dokumentong nagpapatunay na Chinese national siya. Nakaka-frustrate talaga," she added.
During yesterday's hearing, Hontiveros moved to cite Guo in contempt for her evasiveness and lying before the Senate panel.
The senator highlighted the detail shared by Guo about taking a yacht ride and identified an individual who facilitated the trip.
"Mayroon pa lang siyang isang pangalan na inamin niya, sinulat lamang niya, na diumano ay tumulong sa kaniya both doon sa negosyo at sa pagtakas," said Hontiveros.
The name of the facilitator, written on a paper by Guo, is believed to be non-Filipino and was already mentioned in past hearings, which has further piqued their interest.
"Obviously may connection siya [facilitator ni Alice Guo] sa mga maimpluwensya din dito sa ating bansa," Hontiveros stated.
The name of JP Samson also emerged; he is reportedly a co-incorporator with Guo Hua Ping in a business dealing with buying and selling luxury cars.
It is said that they had a shared bank account at one point. Besides Alice Guo, JP Samson has been mentioned twice by different resource persons
The senators believe that the individual in question may be involved in financial matters, and therefore, they plan to summon him for the next hearing.
"Nabanggit na rin siya ng ilang resource person bukod kay Guo Hua Ping na siya daw ang nagpakilala kay Nancy Gamo, ‘yung dating accountant ni Alice Guo sa kanya. Dahil si Nancy Gamo na naging resource person din namin at nagpakatotoo naman na siya’y dating empleyado ni JP Samson," said Hontiveros.
Above all, the Senate committee panel is investigating the connection between Guo and Sual, Pangasinan Mayor Dong Calugay.
"Marami-rami kasi kaming natatanggap na impormasyon tungkol sa papel ni Mayor sa POGO sa Bamban, at pati rin sa pagtakas ni Guo Hua Ping sa Pilipinas. Iveverify pa namin ang mga ito," Hontiveros explained.
Hontiveros believes that telling the truth is the best way to protect Guo, which is why the senator urged her during the hearing to be honest.
"Patuloy lang namin siyang tatambakan ng mga ebidensyang kahit halos parang kailangan namin siyang bunutan ng ngipin, mga ebidensyang nakakalap din namin bunga ng mga pira-pirasong sagot niya sa amin," Hontiveros said in closing.
Alice Guo will remain in the custody of the PNP, and the court will be notified when she is required to attend the Senate hearing again, which is scheduled for next week on September 17, Tuesday.
