Source: PNA file photo
Guo hunted
PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) agents on Tuesday have stepped up their hunt for Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo whose arrest was ordered by the Senate in the wake of the continuing investigation into her being an alleged “Chinese spy.”
On orders of PNP chief, General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil, all concerned units of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the Police Regional Office 3 and the Tarlac Police Provincial Office have sent tracker teams to help the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms apprehended the beleaguered local government official.
Police were sent to assist the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSSA) in serving the arrest order issued against the mayor and her co-accused Sheila Leal Guo, Wesley Leal Guo, Jian Zhong Guo, Seimen Guo, and her suspected mother Wen Yi Lin, as well as Dennis Cunanan and Guo’s accountant Nancy Gamo.
Gamo has been located in her last known address and was immediately placed under Senate custody last Saturday.
PNP spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo said that all police chiefs in areas where the said individuals have addresses or are known to be living have been instructed to joint the hunt.
“Doon sa arrest warrants na in-issue laban kay Mayor Alice Guo at iba niyang associates, associated sa kanya, noong nakaraang weekend nga ay nag-provide ng security assistance ang PNP sa mga personnel ng Senate Sergeant-at-Arms,” said the official.
Senators gave the OSSA 24 hours to locate and apprehend the eight and detain them at the Senate lockup facility until they appear and testify before the Senate committee investigating Philippine offshore gaming operators or POGOs which have been identified as “scam farms” in many instances.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality, said the eight have been ordered to appear before the Senate on July 29.
Hontiveros signed the subpoena which was approved by Senate President Francis Escudero.
Guo was cited in contempt for her refusal to appear before the Senate. She was tagged as having “delayed, impeded, and obstructed” the inquiry into human trafficking, serious illegal detention, and physical abuse and torture violations at the gaming hub leading to the issuance of the arrest order against her.
Guo, however, filed for a petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court seeking to annul and set aside the arrest order issued against her by the Senate saying she has already been adjudged guilty of all sorts of crimes.
In a letter, Guo told the Senate that she could no longer attend the hearing due to health and mental concerns.
She added that she failed to present a medical certificate in support of her claims as no medical professional wanted to be implicated in the ongoing Senate investigation.
