Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday called on suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo or Guo Hua Ping to respect the law and submit herself to law enforcement authorities.
“She just should voluntarily surrender,” said Gatchalian. “I’m sure she already knows there is an arrest order against her.”
Guo has recently been cited for contempt by the Senate over her failure to attend recent hearings related to multiple charges against her over her alleged ties to illegitimate Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
Teams from the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) and Philippine National Police, which included SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) operatives failed to locate the mayor in her given address at QJJ farm in Bamban last Saturday.
The contingent forces from the OSAA and the police were armed with an arrest order signed by Senate President Francis Escudero.
The arrest order was issued upon the request of Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality, which has been conducting an investigation into the illicit operations in the country of POGOs.
Guo was ordered arrested “for unduly refusing to appear, despite due notices,” at the Senate hearing on reports human trafficking, torture, serious illegal detention and other serious crimes committed at POGO hubs.
The arresting officers of teams deployed to Marilao and Valenzuela City also did not succeed in finding Guo’s siblings—Shiela, Wesley and Siemen—and their parents Jian Zhong Guo and Wen Yi Lin (both reportedly in China).
They were also ordered arrested for their refusal to attend the hearings on their alleged links to POGO crimes. However, the arresting officers got Nancy Gamo, the accountant of the suspended mayor.
Gamo is being held at the Senate detention facility and has been scheduled to testify before Hontiveros’ committee next hearing on July 29.
Guo failed to attend the hearings on June 26 and July 10 citing her mental and physical health.
In a letter of explanation sent to Hontiveros, the mayor said the “malicious accusations” and “ridicule” she has experienced over the course of the inquiry has taken a toll on her health, which has made her “unfit to endure a rigorous situation such as a Senate hearing.”
Hontiveros earlier warned that if the Guos still refuse to attend the hearing, they would be physically brought to the Senate. The OSSA said there will be service of arrest order against the Guos on Sunday.
The assets of Guo and her associates were ordered freeze by the Court of Appeals upon the petition of the Anti- Money Laundering Council. Gatchalian described as terrifying the way Guo led her life, which is filled with lies.
“She lied on the Senate. She even went on TV (interview) and told a story about her life. She had the same story during the campaign, but now, we know the truth. She had formal schooling, no Teacher Rubilyn and with formal teachers,” related Gatchalian.
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