Senator Ronald dela Rosa expressed his frustration during the testimony of Mary Ann Maslog regarding inconsistencies in her statements about her connection with dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo.
Maslog, who attended the Senate hearing on Tuesday, stated that she met Guo while both of them were in Indonesia, allegedly through General Romeo Macapaz, a friend of Mayor Liseldo Calugay.
“They were just requesting if it was possible. Ms. Alice planned to surrender then. There was already a warrant issued by your office, so I talked to Mayor Calugay if there is a way to contact Ms. Alice,” she testified.
However, as Maslog continued to provide unclear statements, the senator’s temper flared, suggesting that her “unique” case allowed her to be exploited by the government.
“Could it be said that your case was unique because of your textbook scam, that’s why you were used as a hostage by the government? If you wouldn’t want to be used, then you’re done,” he questioned while trying to clarify her communication with the police general.
“It’s a simple question; why did you go to Indonesia to ask Guo Hua Ping? What was your role? You convince us,” he added.
Maslog later claimed she was also in contact with Indonesian law enforcement, stating that she “got a text message” from those who captured the fugitive Guo.
Dela Rosa again challenged her reasoning, asserting that he saw no intelligence value on her apart from any other reason that she could be used.
“You are a liar, indeed. You are hiding something. I will not let you get away from the session hall even if you are in custody with the NBI,” he remarked angrily.
“Somebody is using you for an irregular operation, I suspect. I have information that you are being used to let Alice Guo sign an affidavit that would implicate (former) President Duterte, Senator Bong Go, Senator Bato, and General Caramat in the POGO operations. I can pin you down,” he later claimed.
Other senators also expressed confusion over Maslog’s inconsistent statements.
Committee chairperson Senator Risa Hontiveros noted that the sequence of events had been altered while Senator Jinggoy Estrada intermittently remarked that she had lied to the committee.
