More Alice Guos? 'China men' won local posts

There are locally elected officials who were able to run for office even though they are not Filipinos and are foreign nationals from China.

- By MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB

During the Kapihan sa Senado forum yesterday, Sen. JV Ejercito said he has met these local officials in the provinces who do not look and sound like members of the Filipino-Chinese community.

"I have met elected officials whom I know are 'China men.' You would know. I came from a Chinese school and I can distinguish the accent and the features between Filipino-Chinese or Tsinoys and those who are foreigners from China," Ejercito said.

The senator thus urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to be more vigilant against candidates pretending to be Filipinos and prevent another Alice Guo from running in next year's midterm elections.

"They do not look like they grew up here. This is why the Comelec should be more vigilant and prevent another Alice Guo from being able to run again in our government," Ejercito said.

The senator expressed hope that the Senate hearings on illegal Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGOs) will result in the passage of a law that will "prevent non-Filipinos from becoming officials and protect the country from planted foreign agents."

He said allegations that Guo, the dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor, was a Chinese spy who faked her Filipino citizenship, should serve as a wake-up call for the government to be more vigilant against China's alleged infiltration in Philippine politics.

"We are in maritime conflict with China over the West Philippine Sea. We do not want to be infiltrated," Ejercito said.

The senator expressed belief that there was a "bigger fish" and that Guo was only a "pawn" of a big syndicate behind illegal POGOs.

Guo was able to give names during the executive session with senators, but she feared for her life, according to Ejercito.

For his part, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada questioned the credibility as witness of Mary Ann Maslog, an accused in the 1998 textbook scam who testified before senators that she helped convince Guo to surrender.