Arrest orders against Alice Guo, the suspended mayor of Bamban town in Tarlac province, and seven others have been issued by the Senate after they all skipped the July 10, 2024, hearing of the committee on women probing into illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos). INQUIRER/RICHARD A. REYES
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The Senate issued an arrest order against suspended Tarlac town Mayor Alice Guo and seven others after they skipped the July 10 hearing 鈥� despite due notices 鈥� of the committee on women probing into illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos).
Panel head Sen. Risa Hontiveros and Senate President Francis 鈥淐hiz鈥� Escudero signed the eight arrest orders for Guo, her family members Sheila Guo, Wesley Leal Guo, Jian Zhong Guo, and Seimen Guo, her suspected mother Wen Yi Lin, her accountant Nancy Gamo, and alleged authorized representative of Pogos Dennis Cunanan.
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Copies of the official arrest orders were shared with the media by Hontiveros鈥� office on Saturday, July 13.
According to Hontiveros鈥� office, the arrest orders were signed late Friday afternoon.
Based on the arrest order for Guo, her refusal to appear before the Senate 鈥渄elayed, impeded, and obstructed鈥� the inquiry into the reported violation of human trafficking, serious illegal detention, and physical abuse and torture in the premises of an internet gaming licensee of the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation.
Hontiveros explained that 鈥渢he issuance of the arrest order is only the first step to making Mayor Alice Guo or Guo Hua Ping accountable to our laws.鈥�
鈥淪a dami ng kasinungalingan at posibleng krimen ni Mayor Alice at ng lahat ng sangkot sa Pogo, this is not merely procedural. This arrest order upholds the mandate of the Senate to safeguard the well-being of Filipinos,鈥� she said in a statement later Saturday.
(Of all the lies and possible crimes of Mayor Alice and all involved in Pogo, this is not merely procedural. This arrest order upholds the mandate of the Senate to safeguard the well-being of Filipinos.)
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鈥淧atuloy naming hinihintay sa Senado ang kanyang pagdalo sa susunod na hearing, kasama na ang lahat ng taong nasa listahan na cited in contempt,鈥� Hontiveros also said.
(We continuously wait in Senate for her to attend the next hearing, together with all others in the list who were cited for contempt.)
鈥淢agpakita na kayo. Hindi mabubura ng inyong pagtatago ang katotohanan,鈥� she added.
(Show up already. Your hiding will not conceal the truth.)