By Brian Jules Campued
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has confirmed that the fingerprints of suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo and Guo Hua Ping match, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said Thursday.
“Mayor Alice, walang sikretong hindi nabubunyag. Indeed, the NBI has confirmed that the fingerprints of Mayor Alice Guo and Guo Hua Ping match. Ibig sabihin, they are the fingerprints of one and the same person,” Hontiveros said in a statement.
“This confirms what I have suspected all along. Pekeng Pilipino si “Mayor Alice” — or should I say, Guo Hua Ping. She is a Chinese national masquerading as Filipino citizen to facilitate crimes being committed by POGO,” the senator added.
Hontiveros, who requested the comparison of fingerprints of the embattled mayor and the Chinese national suspected to be her true identity, said the NBI finding is the strongest evidence to remove Guo from her mayoral post.
In an interview with People’s Television (PTV), NBI Director Jaime Santiago also confirmed Hontiveros’ statement.
“‘Yung fingerprint card ni Guo Hua Ping na kinuha noong March 28, 2006 at saka ‘yong fingerprint impression of one Guo, Alice Leal dated 2021, matches pareho,” Santiago said.
However, Santiago clarified that they cannot conclude whether Guo is Chinese or Filipino, as they only acted in compliance with the Senate’s request. He added that it is also up to the upper chamber on what charges they will file against the mayor.
“Actually, nagkaroon kami ng action to compare the fingerprint cards dahil upon the request of the Senate, remember that Mayor Alice Guo was being [investigated], bahala na ang Senate doon kung anong makita nilang pupwedeng i-file na kaso,” he said.
“‘’Yung parte na ‘yan (confirmation on Guo’s true identity) hindi natin masabi, ‘yun lang impression, doon lang kami sa fingerprint impression na dalawang tao na the same, iisa lang ‘yon. Iisang tao lang ‘yon,” the NBI chief continued.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, likewise, cited the documents on the Special Investor Residence Visa granted to Guo’s alleged mother, Lin Wen Yi, as well as their immigration and travel records provide “irrefutable evidence of her deception and duplicity” for illegal activities.
“Guo Hua Ping’s mockery of Philippine laws should not be taken lightly, and she should be brought to the bar of justice as soon as possible,” Gatchalian said in a statement.
“Ang mga katulad niya na nag-aakalang mabibili ang pagiging Pilipino ay dapat maparusahan nang husto. Hindi tayo titigil hanggang sa wala nang iba pang mga “Alice Guo” ang makalulusot at makatatakas sa ating batas,” he added.
The senators thanked the NBI, Board of Investments (BOI), the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), and other government agencies for their prompt response and cooperation in the Senate committee’s “pursuit of justice and truth”.
They also urged the Office of the Solicitor General to “expedite its filing of a quo warranto case” against Guo.
“Dapat mapanagot siya sa lahat ng krimen na ginawa niya at ng kanyang POGO hub,” Hontiveros said.
Gatchalian stressed the need for a fast response by the OSG as Guo may still run in next year’s elections, adding that the mayor should face several charges against her.
“Unang-una, dapat matanggal siya bilang mayor, dahil nagsinungaling siya sa kaniyang certificate of candidacy na Filipino siya. Obviously, hindi siya Filipino dahil si Guo Hua Ping ay Chinese, nanay ni Guo Hua Ping ay Chinese, si Guo Hua Ping may Chinese passport,” the solon said in a phone interview with PTV.
“‘Yong kaso ng human trafficking na-file na laban sa kaniya, pangatlo dapat i-file rin ‘yong kaso ng money laundering laban sa kaniya. Nakita namin sa sarili naming mga dokumento na mayroon talaga siyang ginawang money laundering,” he added.
At the Thursday hearing of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality on the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Bamban, Hontiveros bared an NBI document showing another woman named Alice Leal Guo, who has the same birth province and birthday as the suspended mayor.
Gatchalian, on the other hand, noted that Guo listed the name Lin Wen Yi as her mother when she opened her bank accounts, albeit in different variations.
As to the issuance of subpoenas ordered by the Senate committee against Guo and her family members, the senator called on the mayor to attend the hearing and reveal the persons behind the POGOs in the Philippines.
“Tingin ko makakatulong pa rin siya sa ating bansa kung sasabihin niya kung sino ‘yung mga taong nasa likod ng POGO. Dahil wala na siyang… kumbaga wala na siyang kawala sa identity niya eh,” he said.
“Kung talagang sinasabi niyang Filipino siya, at mahal niya ang ating bansa, sabihin na niya kung sino ‘yung mga taong nasa likod ng POGO,” he added. (with report from Daniel Manalastas/PTV News)
