THE Quad Committee investigating the connections between Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), illegal drug trade, and extrajudicial killings (EJKs) has identified individuals who assisted dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo in fleeing the country.
Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chair of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, revealed that some of those involved are allegedly members of the Philippine National Police (PNP). He stated, “A theory is emerging in our Quad Comm because we know that they cannot leave without consequences. They may have paid due to their wealth, paid for connections, paid for whoever to facilitate their escape.”
Barbers further hinted at the potential disclosure of these individuals’ identities in the next hearing, saying, “We have some idea of who they are, and perhaps in the next hearing, we will reveal them.” When asked if Immigration personnel were involved, he confirmed, “There is such information (Immigration personnel helped). There are also Local Chief Executives, there are also employees of the Philippine National Police, many. Many theories, many suspicions we have.”
Barbers urged Guo and Cassandra Li Ong, another individual linked to the POGO operation, to cooperate with the government, arguing that their continued resistance only benefits their lawyers and those who assisted them in escaping. He stated, “What will happen is her lawyers (Ong) will profit because she listens to them. So what will happen is she will be imprisoned, her lawyer will profit, she will be the one to suffer.”
The lawmaker believes Guo and Ong are merely fronts for a larger operation, lacking the resources to establish a multi-billion peso POGO business independently. He emphasized the need for them to identify the true owners of the POGO operation, their connections within the government, and the nature of their activities.
“The question is, who is using them as dummies? Who are the government officials they approached and networked with, and what is the real operation of this POGO?” Barbers asked, highlighting the discovery of various criminal activities, including prostitution, kidnapping, murder, and money laundering, within POGO hubs.
He concluded by stating, “So Alice Guo and Cassandra Li Ong might get caught in this, but if someone is using them, they are probably laughing in another country, and those who helped them here (in the Philippines) are also smiling because they have already profited.”
