Anti-crime body doubts Alice Guo's death threat claim

MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) is skeptical of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo's claim of receiving death threats, citing her recent actions as inconsistent with someone fearing for their life.

Gilbert Cruz, PAOCC executive director, said it was only "right" that Guo be arrested as she still needs to explain her alleged involvement in the proliferation of illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO), including why her name appears on several POGO-related documents.  

After all, Cruz said, the government has prepared an "airtight" case against her, and simply denying involvement in POGO operations will not be enough.

"She claims she’s been receiving death threats, but we find it odd that she went into hiding, changed her hair color, cut it short, and altered her story," Cruz said in a mix of English and Filipino, in an interview with DZBB.

"Why did she leave the country if she wasn’t hiding? Based on that alone, it doesn’t seem like she’s telling the truth," he added.

This comes after Guo was overheard asking Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos for help regarding the supposed death threats against her in a video posted on Facebook.

During Abalos' meeting with Guo in Jakarta, footage of which he uploaded on his Facebook page, Guo can be heard saying: "Sec, patulong. May death threat po kasi ako (Sec, please help me. There's a death threat against me)."

Guo also cited death threats against her as one of the reasons why she could not attend the Senate inquiry into her alleged involvement in POGOs, according to the excuse letter she sent Sen. Risa Hontiveros in July. 

'Always lying'

The PAOCC official said that if there were any real threats against Guo's life, they would likely come from individuals Guo might expose. 

“She hasn’t implicated anyone yet; she’s always lying. Sa tingin ko parang gawa gawa nalang yan (I think this is just made up)," Cruz added.

Cruz said Guo will need to face several cases against her upon her return, including the non-bailable qualified human trafficking charge that was filed against her in June by the PAOCC and the Philippine National Police before the Department of Justice. 

Key documents related to the operations of the POGO hub in Bamban all bear Guo's "markings," Cruz said.

"Her claims about not owning certain properties are false because we still have documents showing her name associated with payments, maintenance, and expenses related to Bamban’s POGO," Cruz said.

"She needs to clarify her connection to these documents," he added.

Guo was able to flee the country on July 18 despite being the subject of an immigration lookout bulletin. The embattled official was arrested by Indonesian officials on Tuesday and was flown to the Philippines Thursday night.