Senators refute Tarlac Mayor Guo's claims, stress importance of POGO probe

Senator Risa Hontiveros and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian refuted suspended Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo’s claims that the Senate is fixated on her, emphasizing the importance of their investigation into POGO-related issues.

Senate President Francis Escudero said Guo has no right to dictate lawmakers' priorities and stressed her duty to protect Filipino interests by attending Senate hearings.

Hontiveros dismissed Guo's denial of involvement in POGO-related crimes as false, accusing her of lying about her Filipino identity when she is a full-blooded Chinese with alleged links to a syndicate behind illegal offshore gaming operations.

Guo remains in hiding amid a Senate arrest order and posted on Facebook that politicians are using her to boost their political ambitions; however, Gatchalian expressed disappointment over her non-appearance in the Senate probe.

The senators leading the POGO investigation, including Gatchalian and Hontiveros, maintain strong evidence against Guo and argue she is lying and evading the invitation of the Senate because she cannot provide straight answers.

Gatchalian emphasized that as an elected official, Guo should respect Philippine laws and attend the hearings, adding that her recent posts appear to deflect from the real issues.