No executive session for Guo

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate committee investigating dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo sees no reason to go into a closed-door executive session amid Guo’s claim that there is a threat to her life.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada thumbed down Guo’s request for a secret session, saying the public has the right to know her alleged links to organized crime.

“What difference does it make if she discloses in an open session as against a proceeding conducted behind closed doors? Alice Guo testified falsely before us, telling us a tall tale about her circumstances… What assurance that she will be open, truthful and cooperative this time?” Estrada pointed out.

He said the Senate would only allow an executive session if she could provide concrete proof of threats to her life.

He also gave hints that the foreign national Guo revealed to the senators is the one who helped her find a yacht and two small boats she and her alleged siblings Shiela Guo and Wesley Guo used to escape to Malaysia.

He said Guo was referring to her business associate who has five passports and is now hiding in Taiwan.

“I heard he is the boss of all the bosses in illegal offshore gaming operations,” Estrada said.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate women and children’s committee inquiry, said Guo was unable to prove to the senators that her life was in danger since she was arrested in Indonesia where she went into hiding.

“Our committee has not seen any reason to believe that Guo Hua Ping (Alice Guo) will provide us with factual, valuable and reliable information to convince us to agree to an executive session,” Hontiveros said.

Guo was also unwilling to tell the truth about how she was able to fake her Filipino identity to run for mayor, following biometric tests that showed she faked her birth certificate despite being born in China.

“She refused to admit during the previous hearing that she is a Chinese national. It is insulting that she still insists on being Filipino,” Hontiveros said.

“If she cannot even tell the truth about her identity, why should we believe everything else that comes out of her mouth? She should be truthful first before we allow her an executive session,” the senator added.

Guo’s legal counsel Stephen David stood firm on the dismissed mayor’s request, stating that she will reveal all the truth in an executive session.

He added the Senate has nothing to lose if they accept Guo’s request as they will get the information that they want to use in aid of legislation.

The dismissed mayor faces human trafficking and money laundering complaints for her alleged role in forcing people to do scams and for using her business as a front for illegal proceeds.

She also faces a graft case at the Capas, Tarlac Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 109, for which she was ordered detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center after refusing to post bail.

During the Senate’s hearing on Monday, Guo refused to name those who helped her escape, claiming there was a threat to her life both here and abroad. She also denied a mafia is out to silence her.

Meanwhile, Ombudsman Samuel Martires stood by his office’s decision to file the graft cases against Alice Guo before the RTC of Capas, Tarlac and not at the Sandiganbayan.

In an interview with dzBB on Monday afternoon, Martires maintained that there was no mistake or oversight on the part of state prosecutors of the ombudsman who prepared and filed two counts of violation of Republic Act (RA) 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices Act against Guo last week.

He pointed out that at the time of the filing of the cases, Guo was no longer a public official, hence she is no longer covered by RA 10660 or an Act Strengthening Further the Functional and Structural Organization of the Sandiganbayan.

“That’s why she must remain under the jurisdiction of Capas, Tarlac because its RTC has jurisdiction over Bamban,” Martires said in English and Filipino.

Comelec deadline

The Commission on Elections has given Guo another extension to answer the misrepresentation charges against her.

Acting on the second motion for extension filed by Guo’s counsel, the Comelec legal department gave the dismissed mayor until Thursday to submit her counter-affidavit.

With the 10-day extension, Garcia said there is no reason for Guo’s counsel not to file her counter-affidavit.

He added Guo may also appear before the Commission to personally submit a sworn counter affidavit.

According to Garcia, the second extension given to Guo is not a special treatment but part of due process given to respondents of any person facing preliminary investigation.

Based on the legal department’s recommendation, Garcia said the Commission is expected to issue its decision before Sept. 20.

“May this case serve as a lesson for those who will file their COCs (certificates of candidacy). One should accomplish their COCs carefully or there might be misrepresentation,” Garcia said.

He added a criminal case will be filed against Guo if the commission finds probable cause on the misrepresentation complaint.

Escape by yacht?

Meanwhile, National Bureau of Investigation chief Jaime Santiago confirmed that the NBI Task Force Guo will investigate the claims of the dismissed mayor regarding her alleged escape through a yacht, despite skepticism over the story.

Speaking at a forum in Malate, Manila Tuesday, Santiago said Guo had mentioned the involvement of a yacht in her escape from the Philippines. However, Santiago noted the NBI is doubtful of her claim.

“We do not believe that the sea escape happened as she described,” Santiago said, adding that the NBI is working with yacht owners to identify the vessel involved, which Guo described as having an eagle design.

He added that the NBI continues to investigate those who may have assisted Guo, both in the private sector and among public officials.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) assured the Senate during budget deliberations yesterday that it would revise its guidelines to allow inspection of private vessels at sea after senators learned that Guo was able to flee to Malaysia by boat. — Mayen Jaymalin, Mark Ernest Villeza