By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora | Philippine News Agency
A Senate committee on Wednesday ruled to cite in contempt and issue a warrant of arrest against suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo for repeatedly skipping the hearing on illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
Senator Risa Hontiveros, chair of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, issued the ruling following separate motions by Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.
Guo failed to appear at the July 10 inquiry, saying she is facing death threats and is not mentally and physically fit to “endure a rigorous situation such as a Senate hearing”.
In her letter, Guo said she has sought professional help, but her doctors “refused to issue a medical certificate,” saying “for fear that they may also experience the humiliation and ridicule that I am going through.”
Estrada suggested that she be attended by a government doctor but maintained that her letter was “unacceptable”.
He moved for the issuance of a warrant of arrest against Guo.
“I think this letter is totally unacceptable therefore I would like to move that we issue a warrant of arrest against Mayor Guo for her to attend the next hearing kung mayroon man,” he said.
Senator Nancy Binay also took a swipe at Guo for using mental health as an excuse to skip the investigation.
“Ang sa akin nakakahiya naman po sa mga tunay na may mental health condition. I would just like to reiterate na seryosong usapin ang mental health at hindi ito ginagamit na dahilan para magsinungaling,” she said.
Others cited in contempt were Guo’s parents, Jian Zhong Guo and Wenyi Lin; her siblings, Seimen Leal Guo, Shiela Guo, and Wesley Leal Guo; POGO incorporator Nancy Gamo; and former Technology and Livelihood Resource Center Deputy Director General Dennis Cunanan.
A subpoena was also issued for Jaimielyn Cruz, Roderick Paul Pujante, Juan Miguel Alpas, Katherine Cassandra Ong, Alberto Rodulfo “Ar” de la Serna, Jonathan Mendoza, Ronelyn Baterna, Michael Bryce Mascarenas, Stephanie Mascarenas, Rodrigo Banda, Jing Gu, Xiang Tan, Daniel Salcedo Jr., Chona Alejandre, and Duanren Wu.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) earlier confirmed that the fingerprints of Guo and a certain Chinese national named Guo Hua Ping were the same.
In her opening statement, Hontiveros said Filipino citizenship is not for sale.
Addressing Guo, she said: “You took advantage of our brittle regulatory system. Our system may be brittle, but it is not broken.”
Hontiveros said the answer she wanted to hear at the Senate probe are: “Who are enabling her and these POGOs? Are there protectors within our government?”.
