29-7-2024 (MANILA) The ongoing saga surrounding suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo took another twist on Monday as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) revealed that she had recently been spotted in Bulacan province, yet managed to evade capture.
During a Senate hearing focussed on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), the Bureau of Immigration confirmed that Guo remains within Philippine borders, despite her conspicuous absence from the proceedings. This revelation comes in the wake of a Senate-issued arrest warrant for the embattled mayor.
NBI Assistant Director Angelito Magno disclosed, “Our assets informed us of sightings in Bulacan prior to the issuance of the arrest warrant. However, when our team investigated these potential locations, we were unable to apprehend or locate her.”
The revelation prompted Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada to express frustration at the seemingly sluggish pace of the search for Guo, who has been at the centre of a high-profile POGO controversy since March. In a thinly veiled threat, Estrada warned law enforcement agencies, “If you can’t arrest her within a month, your budget may be affected.”
In response, Magno assured the Senate that the NBI would redouble its efforts to locate and apprehend Guo.
Meanwhile, the hearing provided an opportunity for Nancy Gamo, Guo’s accountant who has been detained in the Senate for over a fortnight, to present her side of the story. Gamo clarified that Guo and her family were clients for whom she had registered corporations, including POGOs, at her standard rates. She emphasised that Guo was not afforded any special treatment.
Following Gamo’s testimony, Senator Robin Padilla moved for her release. Senator Risa Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality and is spearheading the POGO inquiry, concurred with the motion. While Hontiveros acknowledged Gamo’s compliance with Senate queries, she noted that the accountant should have exercised more diligence regarding Guo’s business dealings.
