No executive session for Guo

The Senate committee investigating dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo sees no reason to go into a closeddoor executive session amid Guo’s claim that there is a threat to her life.

- MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada thumbed down Guo’s request for a secret session, saying the public has the right to know her alleged links to organized crime.

“What difference does it make if she discloses in an open session as against a proceeding conducted behind closed doors? Alice Guo testified falsely before us, telling us a tall tale about her circumstances… What assurance that she will be open, truthful and cooperative this time?” Estrada pointed out.

He said the Senate would only allow an executive session if she could provide concrete proof of threats to her life.

He also dropped hints that the foreign national Guo revealed to the senators is the one who helped her find a yacht and two small boats she and her alleged siblings Shiela Guo and Wesley Guo used to escape to Malaysia.

He said Guo was referring to her business associate who has five passports and is now hiding in Taiwan.

“I heard he is the boss of all the bosses in illegal offshore gaming operations,” Estrada said.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate women and children’s committee inquiry, said Guo was unable to prove to the senators that her life was in danger since she was arrested in Indonesia where she went into hiding.

“Our committee has not seen any reason to believe that Guo Hua Ping (Alice Guo) will provide us with factual, valuable and reliable information to convince us to agree to an executive session,” Hontiveros said.