MANILA, Philippines — Dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo, who has been linked to illegal Philippine offshore gaming operations and POGO-related crimes, claims she is a victim rather than a mastermind.
And she is willing to name, in executive session, the “most guilty” in POGO operations.
During yesterday’s continuation of the public hearing of the Senate committee on women, children and family affairs presided over by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito asked Guo whether she was willing to divulge the identities of other big bosses in the POGOs.
“We will have an executive session before we wrap up. You are tired – 12 hours (hearing in) Congress, here (in the Senate) for a few hours. Maybe you already feel sorry for yourself, but we should also feel sorry for the victims of POGOs. Are you a mastermind and are you willing to talk about who is behind these operations?” Ejercito asked Guo.
Wearing a black face mask, Guo replied, “I’m not a mastermind. You can say I’m a victim.”
Ejercito further pressed, “So you are a victim, a pawn or being used by an international criminal syndicate?”
Guo replied: “It’s not I was used. If ever, I helped, it’s because I am a helpful person. If there is anything, that’s it. But the activities that were done or the allegations, I have nothing to do with it.”
Ejercito further asked, “Are you guilty or most guilty or do you think there are others who are more guilty?”
“I am not guilty,” Guo maintained. “I think that during the investigation, the committee already knows, especially chaired by our madam chair, who is at the back of everything.”
Ejercito reminded Guo that “she still has a chance to say. We also feel sorry for the victims of POGOs. In the executive session, we can’t release it to the public, we understand that you are afraid. We understand, to reduce your guilt, are you willing to say who is the most guilty?”
Guo replied, “Yes po.”
“I am expecting Miss Alice Guo will divulge who is the masterminds of the international criminal syndicate, we will be responsible for her safety,” Ejercito noted.
The executive session continued into the night.
Paid to keep silent
POGO executives were allegedly paid by Guo to keep silent about their involvement, Zun Yuan Technology treasurer “Alex” revealed after sur rendering to the NBI on Sunday.
Alex, along with the corporate secretary of Zun Yuan, turned them selves in following the raid of two POGO companies in Bamban.
The pair claimed that their real business was buying and selling cars, but in 2023 they were allegedly ap proached by Guo’s staff and offered P20,000 and a monthly dividend in exchange for lending their names as incorporators of the POGO company.
After the POGO was raided, Alex and other officials were summoned by the NBI, House of Representa tives and Senate in May.
However, they were allegedly told not to cooperate with authori ties. The suspects said they were urged not to say anything because they would fight the charges.
Alex also disclosed that when the Senate hearing began drawing more attention to Guo, they were given cash and instructed to hide.
“We were given money to change houses,” he said, adding that he re ceived P500,000. He claimed that the money came from Jeremy Santos, a staff member of Guo. — Mark Ernest Villez