NEW DEFENDERS Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. is pictured with the members of the graduating class, PMA "Bagong Sinag" Class of 2024. Teodoro lauded the new graduates for maintaining high level of excellence and resilience throughout their military training. He also stressed the need to adapt and thrive in the ever evolving operating landscape. AFP PHOTO
Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro denied on Friday any acquaintance with Bamban Mayor Alice Guo amid speculations about her nationality and alleged connections to a raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub.
Teodoro, who served as a representative of Tarlac from 1998 to 2007, addressed the issue after a group photo featuring both him and Guo circulated on social media.
"No, I don't know anyone like that. I was surprised to hear about this. It's unfortunate that it happened in my province," Teodoro said in an interview with reporters.
Teodoro, who served as a representative of Tarlac from 1998 to 2007, addressed the issue after a group photo featuring both him and Guo circulated on social media.
The Defense chief emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the Bamban mayor.
"Whether she is a Chinese agent or not, the issue is her involvement in illegal activities within her jurisdiction," Teodoro said, adding that it is unlikely Guo is acting alone.
On Thursday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) pressed the need to dig deeper into the identity of Guo after her alleged ties to a POGO was brought up in a Senate panel hearing.
“Kilala ko lahat ng mga taga-Tarlac na politiko, walang may kilala sa kanya. Kaya nagtataka kami kung saan nanggaling ito? Bakit ganito ito? Hindi namin malaman (I know all the politicians from Tarlac, no one knows her. So, we are wondering where she came from? We don't know),” Marcos told reporters. “Kaya kailangan talagang imbestigahan (That’s why an investigation is really needed).”
Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra shared the OSG has formed a special team to gather relevant information from the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Education, Philippine Statistics Authority, Bureau of Immigration and other government agencies.
"Yes, I created a special team of solicitors last week to look into the matter and determine if there is good reason to believe that the subject is unlawfully holding or exercising a public office," Guevarra said.
"If it could be established by proof, the OSG will commence quo warranto proceedings to oust the person concerned."
During a Senate hearing last week, Senator Risa Hontiveros noted that the 37-year-old Guo apparently “came out of nowhere.”
The mayor, who won on her first attempt at running for the position, remained evasive when questioned about her background before joining local politics, raising even more suspicion about her citizenship.
Based on records from the Comelec, Guo declared that she is a Filipino citizen in her certificate of candidacy, and no one challenged her qualifications, allowing her to run and eventually win as mayor of Bamban, Tarlac.
Guo’s nationality is being questioned after the possibility of her involvement in the two illegal Philippine offshore gaming operations that were recently raided in her city, was floated during a Senate investigation.
Her case is also being linked to the alleged growing Chinese presence in the country due to the influx of Chinese nationals into the country.
The President said immigration authorities should now tighten their guards to ensure the safety of Filipinos.
When pressed if he sees the presence of foreign nationals with questionable backgrounds like Guo as a security threat, Marcos said,
“Palagay ko. Palagay ko. Hindi natin malaman kaya kailangan talaga nating pag-aralan nang mabuti. Pero may possibility na ganyan (I think so. We are not sure so we need to look into this closely. But there’s a possibility that it is a security threat).” PNA
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