Senator Risa Hontiveros (left) and Bamban Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo
SENATOR Risa Hontiveros said the Senate would hold a closed-door hearing to continue its investigation on the links of Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo to the raided Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in her town.
In an interview on GMA’s Unang Balita, Hontiveros’ Committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality chair said the executive session would be held before the third public hearing and while Congress was in recess.
“Meron tayong mga executive departments at agencies, kasama na ang mga intel agencies, na mas gusto pang magbahagi sa aming komite pero hindi pa nila magawa in open hearing. Gagawa kami ng isang executive session ngayong mga panahong ito,” Hontiveros said in the GMA report.
“Sa palagay ko sa executive session na ‘yan, mas maraming lalabas talaga at mae-establish tungkol sa kanyang koneksyon sa POGO, sa criminal connections, at pati sa kanyang hindi mapaliwanag na kayamanan,” she added.
The Senate committee is looking into Guo’s true identity after she gave inconsistent and baffling answers about her origins and background.
Hontiveros earlier speculated that she might be a Chinese asset or agent.
Asked if Guo would attend the executive session, the senator said: :Depende sa aming mapa-finalize sa mga tanong na ihaharap sa executive agencies na ‘yan.”
“Pero kung sa akin lang, mas posibleng imbitado siya, pero piling-pili ang mga resource persons,” Hontiveros said, as posted on abogado.com
