Senate to probe gov’t involvement in Guo’s POGO ties, escape

As the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality nears the conclusion of its investigation into dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo’s Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) ties, Senator Risa Hontiveros aims to uncover the truth behind the dismissed mayor’s escape.

“Sa huling pagdinig laban sa POGOs, susubokin i-pin down ang katotohanan at kaugnayan sa paano tumakas si Guo Hua PIng at kung sino sa gobyerno ang tumulong sakaniya,” Hontiveros stated in a press briefing.

The Senate is also set to investigate whether the Philippine National Police (PNP) Intelligence Group is responsible for Guo’s escape by allowing Mary Ann Maslog to facilitate her surrender and granting her access to Guo in custody.

Maslog, now in custody with the National Bureau of Investigation, will also be invited for the investigation of her involvement in Guo’s surrender and her ties to POGO operations.

She is linked to the 1998 textbook scam and is known to have close ties to Guo and Sual Mayor Liseldo “Dong” Calugay.

“Inimbita namin siya bilang resource person dahil soon or right after siya inaresto ng NBI, lumitaw sa sarili niyang mga statements na kilala daw niya si Guo Hua Ping, kilala daw niya si Mayor Calugay… Hindi talaga kapani-paniwala ‘yung mga pinagsasabi niya,” Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros also revealed that the Department of Foreign Affairs is attempting to establish direct contact with alleged spy She Zheijang, who named Guo as a fellow spy in a recently released documentary.

Her office tried an interview with She through the Philippine embassy in Thailand, but the request was denied for diplomatic reasons.

“Panghahawakan ko ‘yung assurance na binigay ng DFA sa hearing na gagawin nila lahat ng possible to establish a contact with She, because She holds infor regarding national security of our country,” she added.

Hontiveros reportedly holds information about one of the Yang brothers, potentially identifying him as a foreign agent.

The Yang brothers, consisting of former economic adviser Michael Yang, Tony Yang, and Hongjiang Yang, are linked to illegal POGO operations and espionage activities.

They were allegedly seen at the 10th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party and are said to be connected to POGO-related crimes both in the Philippines and abroad.

Hontiveros emphasized that failure to contact She would be a significant setback in investigating POGO-related and espionage activities in the country.

She also confirmed that Guo would no longer be granted an executive session or closed-door meeting in the Senate investigation.