Jinggoy floats Alice Guo’s 'relationship' with POGO-handler exec; mayor denies

Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Wednesday alleged that Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo’s live-in partner, who supposedly is a Pangasinan government official, is the one managing the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) activities in Bamban—a claim which Guo denied. 

In a hearing of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, Estrada said that he received “a very reliable information” that Guo has a romantic relationship with a mayor in a Northern province who handles the POGO operations in Bamban. 

“Wala po. Marami na silang nali-link sa ’kin simula po na buksan ang isyu. Sobrang dami nilang nili-link sa’kin pero wala po akong partner,” Guo said.

(A lot of people have been linked to me since this issue started. They link me to a lot of people, but I don't have a partner.) 

Guo said she has an idea of the mayor who Estrada was referring to, but refrained from dropping any names. 

She asked the senator to reveal the name of the public official, and even jokingly asked Estrada if the person being linked to her is handsome. 

“Kaya ko bini-bring out ito because the reports that I received is that your partner, ‘yung nali-link sayong mayor ng Pangasinan is the one managing and operating your POGO business. Wala akong pakialam sa relasyon ninyo,” the senator said. 

(I'm bringing this out because based on the reports that I received, your partner who is a mayor of Pangasinan is the one managing and operating your POGO business. I don't care about your relationship.)

Guo repeatedly denied the allegation, adding that she does not operate any POGO business.

The POGO hub being referred to was the 10-hectare compound of Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated, which is located in the Baofu compound behind the Bamban municipal hall. In March, the establishment was raided for alleged illegal activities that include crypto and love scams.

Subsequent investigation revealed documents linking Guo to the POGO establishment, which she had also denied. 

According to the mayor, the ones who were managing the operations of the POGO hub in Bamban were Chinese. 

Senator Raffy Tulfo, meanwhile, also told Guo that she is being linked with an official of an executive department. 

“Your honor, hindi ko po alam. Ngayon ko lang narinig [I didn’t know that, I only heard about it now],” she answered. —LDF, GMA Integrated News