Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Friday criticized former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo for turning her arrest into what seemed like a “fan meet” after evading law enforcement.
“We want answers, not a photoshoot. All that’s missing is the red carpet,” Hontiveros quipped, expressing her frustration over Guo’s demeanor.
Hontiveros, who is leading the Senate investigation into illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) linked to Guo, said the former mayor will have her moment in the spotlight during Monday’s hearing.
“Let’s see how photogenic she is during the hearing on Monday. She will have her [unlimited] pictures taken,” the senator said.
Hontiveros also reminded some law enforcers involved in her deportation that Guo’s arrest, considering the serious charges against her—human trafficking, money laundering, fake identity, illegal recruitment, and corruption—should not be treated as a social event.
She emphasized that Guo played with the laws of the Philippines and is facing several allegations of crime and corruption. “She has to pay for all her lying, hiding, escaping and deceiving the Filipino people,” Hontiveros said of the ousted mayor.
Meanwhile, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian urged Guo to come clean about her involvement in illegal POGO operations in Bamban, warning that any further attempts to lie or cover for her associates could lead to harsher penalties.
Guo faces a Senate hearing on Monday, where she will be asked to explain her role in these activities.
