In a startling revelation, Bamban Mayor Alice Guo has been confirmed to be the same individual as Chinese national Guo Hua Ping. This disclosure was made by Senator Risa Hontiveros, who announced on Thursday that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) verified the match between the fingerprints of Mayor Guo and Guo Hua Ping.
Hontiveros, in a public statement, expressed her long-held suspicions about Mayor Guo’s true identity. “It means, they are the fingerprints of one and the same person. This confirms what I have suspected all along. Mayor Alice is a fake Filipino — or should I say, Guo Hua Ping. She is a Chinese national masquerading as a Filipino citizen to facilitate crimes being committed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs),” she declared.
The Senator underscored the gravity of this revelation, describing it as a significant affront not only to the voters of Bamban but also to the entire Philippine government. “This is very strong evidence to remove Mayor Alice from public office,” she added in Filipino.
The implications of this discovery are profound, raising questions about the integrity of local governance and the susceptibility of the political system to infiltration by foreign nationals. Hontiveros emphasized that this situation highlights the need for stricter measures and more rigorous background checks for public officials.
The issue of POGOs, which has been a contentious topic in the Philippines, is further complicated by this revelation. POGOs, which primarily cater to Chinese nationals, have been accused of various illicit activities, including money laundering, human trafficking, and other criminal enterprises. The identification of Mayor Guo as a Chinese national allegedly involved in these operations adds another layer of concern for authorities and the public.
Senator Hontiveros has been a vocal critic of POGOs and has advocated for their regulation or outright ban in the country. This incident reinforces her stance and is likely to intensify calls for stricter oversight and potential policy changes regarding POGOs and their influence in the Philippines.
The NBI’s confirmation of the fingerprint match is a pivotal piece of evidence that could lead to Mayor Guo’s removal from office. The next steps will likely involve a thorough investigation into her activities, both in her capacity as mayor and about the POGO operations she is accused of facilitating.
The residents of Bamban and the wider Filipino public will be watching closely, demanding accountability and transparency from their elected officials. This incident serves as a reminder of the critical importance of integrity in public service and the vigilance required to protect national sovereignty and public trust.