Guo cited in contempt, detained by House panel

MANILA, Philippines —  The House quad committee yesterday cited in contempt dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo for making a fool out of the lawmakers when she told them that no Filipino public official helped her escape.

Presiding officer Rep. Robert Ace Barbers granted the motion of Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano, who also moved that Guo be detained at the House until the panel submits its final report to the plenary, which may last until the end of the 19th Congress next year.

Guo insisted to congressmen that there is “no Filipino public official” who facilitated her escape, saying it was just “one foreigner.”

She had promised to tell all if her request for an executive session would be granted.

“There is no Philippine National Police (PNP) official, no Filipino. There is only one foreigner,” she said.

But the legislators thumbed this down, all of them finding it incredible that there was no public official involved.

Guo was apprehended in Indonesia in early September despite the absence of records from the Bureau of Immigration, an indication she left the country through the backdoor.

Legitimate?

Meanwhile, Guo repeatedly refused to answer lawmakers regarding her purported local farming business, even the simplest of questions about operating a legitimate enterprise.

While she admitted to Quezon Province Third District Rep. Reynante Arrogancia that she also availed of loans to the tune of almost P200 million from government banks like Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines, she still invoked her right against self-incrimination.

She was asked how many piglets her farm had, but she refused to answer.

“What I’m asking you is a very simple question and it has nothing to do with the cases filed against you. These questions are about the legality of your livelihood. I’m not even tackling POGOs (Philippine offshore gaming operations),” Arrogancia said.

“What you have been saying is you have a legitimate business since birth. It’s a legitimate business that I’m asking from you. This will show if indeed you are a legit businesswoman,” Arrogancia said further.

But Guo vehemently refused to answer, claiming her answers might be used against her.

“I have already cases filed against me by the Anti-Money Laundering Council,” Guo told officials and members of the quad committee.

Guo nevertheless acknowledged that her QJJ Farm was accredited by the Department of Agriculture before the pandemic, but that it is no longer such now, owing to the African swine flu outbreak.

She generally and vaguely declared that their piglets are sold in Balintawak, Quezon City and Baguio City.

Fujian gang?

Is dismissed Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping, connected to the notorious Fujian gang?

This question emerged during yesterday’s House quad committee hearing as Guo’s business dealings and potential links to criminal syndicates were scrutinized.

Batangas second district Rep. Gerville Luistro pointed to several suspicious links between Guo and individuals from Fujian, a region in China associated with the gang.

The Fujian gang refers to a crime syndicate similar to triads that include both immigrant gangs in Hong Kong and local networks in Fujian.

One key piece of evidence was a congratulatory poster from Manila-based Chinese businessmen, originally from Fujian, celebrating Guo’s election as the “first Chinese mayor in the Philippines” in 2022.

“This (congratulatory poster) came from businessmen here in Manila who originated from Fujian, China,” Luistro revealed.

Further concerns arose from the Bureau of Immigration records, which identified Guo as a dependent of her mother, Lin Wen Yi, also from Fujian.

‘Name the former PNP chief’

With the integrity of their organization compromised, PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil challenged Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) senior vice president Raul Villanueva to name the former PNP chief who may have assisted Guo in escaping the country.

Marbil yesterday said Villanueva should come clean and identify the particular former head of the police who may have aided Guo so they can conduct their own investigation.

He reminded Villanueva, a retired military general, of the implications of his allegation during a Senate inquiry that a former PNP chief was on Guo’s payroll.

“He is under oath. There’s a difference between talking to the public and talking to the Senate when you are under oath and that is his obligation to the law,” Marbil said over Radyo Pilipinas.

In the absence of a specific name, Marbil said all 24 former PNP chiefs who are still alive were put in a bind, stressing they had to investigate all of them.

“He (Villanueva) should give us the name (of the former PNP chief) so we can cleanse our ranks in the PNP,” he said.

Marbil instructed the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management to look into Villanueva’s revelations, adding they would not hesitate to put the person in jail even if he is a former PNP chief.

As the PNP was put in a bad light, Marbil said Villanueva should have been more careful with his statement, stressing it has affected their efforts to improve the image of their organization.

“We represent the law enforcement. We represent peace and order and the people should have the impression that we are trustworthy. With that statement, it’s something else,” he said.

Asked if the PNP morale is low following the allegation, Marbil said “with all our accomplishments, our work continues and we are not affected.”

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said he has no knowledge about the alleged involvement of a former PNP chief in the POGO payola.–  Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Emmanuel Tupas