MANILA. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has confirmed that Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo is indeed Guo Hua Ping, which has stirred significant controversy. Senator Risa Hontiveros announced the findings on Thursday, June 27, 2024.
In a statement, Hontiveros said, “Indeed, the NBI has confirmed that the fingerprints of Mayor Alice Guo and Guo Hua Ping match. Ibig sabihin, they are the fingerprints of one [and] the same person.” She further asserted, “This confirms what I have suspected all along. Pekeng Pilipino si ‘Mayor Alice’ — or should I say, Guo Hua Ping. She is a Chinese national masquerading as a Filipino citizen to facilitate crimes being committed by POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators).”
Hontiveros has called on the Office of the Solicitor General to expedite the filing of a quo warranto case against Guo, which could lead to her removal from office. She emphasized, “Napakalaking insulto ito sa mga botante ng Bamban, sa mga institusyon ng ating gobyerno, at sa bawat mamamayang Pilipino.” (This is a huge insult to the voters of Bamban, to the institutions of our government, and to every Filipino citizen.) Hontiveros declared, “Ito na ang pinakamabigat na ebidensya para palayasin na sa pwesto si ‘Mayor Alice’.” (This is the most substantial evidence to oust ‘Mayor Alice’ from her position.)
The senator also vowed to continue investigating Guo’s activities and delve deeper into the systemic issues surrounding POGO operations in the country.
Last week, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian revealed that documents from the Board of Investments and Bureau of Immigration suggested that Mayor Guo might be Guo Hua Ping. According to these documents, Guo Hua Ping entered the Philippines on January 12, 2003, at 13, along with her family through a Special Investors Resident Visa (SIRV). She was born on August 31, 1990. Gatchalian pointed out that Guo Hua Ping’s registered mother under the SIRV is Lin Wenyi, suspected to be the mayor’s biological mother due to her involvement in the family’s businesses.
In response, Guo claimed she was born in the Philippines to a Filipina mother and grew up on a farm in Tarlac. However, the Office of the Ombudsman suspended her over charges of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. These charges were filed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) due to her alleged connections with Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated (ZYTI), formerly known as Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc., a POGO firm raided by police in March.
The firm was allegedly involved in illegal activities such as surveillance, hacking of government websites, human trafficking, and money laundering. During a recent hearing, it was revealed that the firm had used the names of individuals without their consent, listing them as incorporators. Among them was Merlie Joy Castro, a call center agent from Concepcion, Tarlac, who faces non-bailable charges of qualified human trafficking alongside Guo. Castro sought assistance from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Senate panel to prove her innocence.
Hontiveros highlighted discrepancies in the TIN associated with Castro when she was listed as an incorporator. Castro also identified three other individuals listed as incorporators: Thelma Laranan, a vegetable vendor; Rowena Evangelista, a breakfast vendor; and Rita Yturralde, who sells chicken barbecue in Concepcion town.
As the investigation continues, the implications of this development for Mayor Alice Guo and the broader issues of governance and legality in POGO operations remain to be seen.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
