Guo family's businesses in Sual, Pangasinan under scrutiny

Metro Manila, Philippines – A business is registered under Shiela Guo's name in Sual, Pangasinan, along with an ID issued by the municipality. Yet, she denies having any connections to the town.

Shiela, the supposed sister of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo based on allegedly tampered Philippine documents, repeatedly said she’s not familiar with a town called Sual during a Senate justice subcommittee hearing on Thursday.

The panel, led by Senator Risa Hontiveros, is investigating how the Guos exited the country in July. Shiela claimed that they traveled for days aboard different vessels at sea en route to Sabah, Malaysia. Sual had earlier been identified as one of the possible exit points.

Although Hontiveros doubts Shiela’s testimony and suspects they traveled by plane to Kuala Lumpur, she rejected Shiela’s claim that she was unfamiliar with Sual.

“Ms. Shiela, ito ay dokumento ng Department of Trade and Industry (Ms. Sheila, this is a document from the Department of Trade and Industry),” Hontiveros said as she showed a Certificate of Business Name Registration to a certain Alisel Aqua Farm located in Sual, which lists Shiela as the owner. It is dated March 2022.

“Baka yung gamit lang ang pangalan ko po (My name might have been used without my knowledge),” Shiela said.

But Hontiveros also showed an “account insurance membership” ID issued by the municipality of Sual with her name and photo.

“Opo, pangalan ko, picture ko, pero hindi ko alam na may ganyan akong ID (Yes, that is my name and picture but I do not know I have that ID),” Shiela said.

Hontiveros proceeded to inquire about Alice Guo’s alleged business ties with Sual Mayor Dong Calugay.

Shiela confirmed that Alice had introduced Calugay to her as a friend but stated she was "not sure" if they had any business relationship.

Who helped the Guos?

Senators attempted but failed in getting Shiela to name the government officials who helped them escape.

“Hindi ko po talaga alam. Ang kakilala ko lang yung kabigan ni Alice na pulis o parang puliti, yun lang si Mayor Dong,” Shiela said.

[Translation: I really don't know. The only person I know is Alice's friend who's a policeman or maybe a politician, that's it, Mayor Dong.]

The Senate invited Calugay to the hearing but he sent an excuse letter and medical certificate indicating he has dengue.

After a six-hour public hearing and an executive session, Hontiveros said, “We now have clear links pointing to the potential involvement of Sual Mayor Dong Calugay.”

She said she’s expecting Calugay to attend the next Senate hearing on Monday, along with Alice Guo who has been arrested in Indonesia, and Katherine Cassandra Li Ong — an official of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) raided in Porac, Pampanga.

She is believed to be the link between the POGO hub in Porac and the P6.1-billion facility in Alice Guo’s town in Bamban.

Alice Guo to tell all, Wesley to surrender

Alice Guo’s lawyer, Stephen David, said she is ready to tell all in Monday’s hearing, but tempered expectations that she will reveal the names of government officials involved in illegal POGOs, shooting down the possibility of her turning state witness.

“Ang state witness kailangan magturo ka ng kung anu-ano, I don’t see how she can manage on that… kasi wala siyang participation sa POGO,” David said.

[Translation: As a state witness, you need to point out various things. I don’t see how she can manage that... because she has no involvement in POGO.]

Meanwhile, David said talks are underway for the surrender of Alice Guo’s brother Wesley. He said the camp is now coordinating with authorities but refused to disclose details.

He also denied knowing Wesley’s whereabouts. Philippine authorities believe he is in Hong Kong.