Alice Guo’s dad likely involved with illegal Pogos, too – Gatchalian

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian is convinced that suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo’s father – Chinese man Jian Zhong Guo – is also involved with illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos).

Speaking to reporters in an online press conference, Gatchalian said it is important for Guo’s family to appear before the Senate.

To recall, the local chief executive and her family – particularly her father, her suspected biological mother Lin Wen Yi, and her siblings Shiela, Seimen, and Wesley Leal – were subpoenaed after they skipped the Senate panel on women’s hearing on June 26.

READ: Guo summoned to Pogo probe: She lacks ‘good reason to be absent’

“Dapat din natin malaman kung sinu-sino ‘yung mga kasama nila dito sa mga illegal activities. Ako naniniwala ako na ‘yung father niya kasama dito, dahil kung titingnan natin ‘yung flight patterns, noong 2016 [at] 2017 biglang biyahe nang biyahe sa ibang bansa eh. ‘Yun kasi yung kasagsagan ng Pogo at noong 2019 nag umpisa na ‘yung Bamban Pogo hub,” said Gatchalian after he was asked why it is important for Guo’s family to attend the probe set on July 10.

(We should also know who they operate with here in these illegal activities. I believe that her father is also involved because if we look at the flight patterns, in 2016 [and] 2017, he suddenly flew to various countries.  That was the peak of Pogo, and in 2019, the Bamban Pogo hub started.)

“So naniniwala ako na ‘yung father niya kasama dito sa mga Pogo activities. At gusto [kong] malaman diretso sa kanila na sino yung mga katransaksyon nila at ano yung mga activities na ipinapasok nila dito sa bansa natin at saan nanggagaling yung pera,” he added.

(So, I believe that her father is involved with Pogo activities. And [I] want to know directly from them who their transaction partners are, what activities they introduce here in our country, and where the money comes from.)

READ: Alice Guo can expose Pogos ‘to reduce her culpability,’ says Gatchalian

According to Gatchalian, it is necessary that people involved in illegal Pogo activities be prosecuted and imprisoned. Otherwise, he added, the same scenarios will happen again and again.

Guo’s legal counsel, Atty. Stephen David, confirmed in a text message that they have received the subpoenas issued by the Senate committee on women.

But he could not ascertain at this point if Mayor Alice Guo can attend the scheduled July 10 hearing.

“Yes, we received it. Due to her health condition, I cannot confirm at the moment whether she can physically attend the Senate hearing,” he said.

Guo skipped the June 26 Senate panel hearing because “she is sick and stressed” amid all the allegations being hurdled against her.

The Tarlac town chief has been scrutinized after the Senate committee on women bared her alleged ties to Zun Yuan Technology, an illegal Pogo hub in Bamban, Tarlac.

She, however, has repeatedly denied all accusations, including claims that she is a Chinese spy.