Sen. Risa Hontiveros said that the Senate investigation into Bamban Mayor Alice Guo’s links to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) activities in Tarlac is not an attack on the Filipino-Chinese community.
Hontiveros was reacting to the statement of civic leader Teresita Ang-See who accused Hontiveros’ committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality of getting sidetracked in its investigations into the POGO industry.
Guo said this kind of witch-hunt and personal attacks were low blows and reflected badly on the dignity of the Senate.
“With their budget, shouldn’t the Senate do their background investigation first? What has her alleged boyfriend, her luxurious lifestyle, her ability or inability to speak Hokkien and Mandarin have to do with her being Filipino or not?” she said.
Noting that her own maternal great-grandmother was pure Chinese, Hontiveros insisted the probe was not an attack on Filipinos of Chinese heritage. She related that the revelations about Guo came out after evidence of her complicity in POGO-related crimes.
According to Hontiveros, there have been many evidences gathered against POGOs in their past eight committee hearings including the proliferation of fake identification documents from PhilHealth IDs to passports.
“This just shows how Chinese POGO syndicates have managed to obtain fraudulent Filipino identities through corrupt individuals in our government agencies. And what is worse with Mayor Guo (is that) she is a public servant,” noted Hontiveros.
Meanwhile, Ang-See said she hopes what is happening to Guo doesn’t happen to the Yaps, Cuas, Cosetengs, Gatchalians, Tans, Dys and other with Chinese heritage.
“I hope they would not be targeted for similar doubts due to politics.”
“Considering China’s aggressive influence operations around the world, it would be remiss of the Senate not to look into this angle,” said Hontiveros..
Furthermore, she stated that some government agencies still have many things to disclose about POGOs but only in an executive session before the next public hearing.
“In the midst of this, I remind everyone that racism, xenophobia and Sinophobia would never be acceptable,” she said.
Regardless of heritage, Hontiveros said all law-abiding citizens should not be the subject of hate and discrimination.
“This is not a witch hunt. This is not about politics. This is about national security, criminal activities, accountability in public service, the rights and welfare of women and children, and the structural failure of our system to regulate POGO as a business model.”
