September 10, 2024
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada has opposed giving an executive session for dismissed mayor Alice Guo, saying the public deserves to know the truth behind her alleged link to a syndicate.
Estrada was reacting to Guo’s request for a closed-door session when she attends the next scheduled Senate investigation on illegal offshore activities.
She cited threats to her life in her request for a closed-door session, saying she is afraid of those out to silence her.
“Alice Guo, who at one point was a public servant, owes the public the truth behind her flight, the truth behind her alleged misdeeds,” Estrada said on Tuesday (Sept. 10).
“Karapatan ng publiko na malaman ang mga kawatan sa gobyerno na kasangkot niya at ng mga kasama niya para takasan ang isinasagawang imbestigasyon sa kanila,” he added.
Estrada said there is no assurance Guo would tell the truth about the illegal offshore gaming syndicate if the investigation is held behind closed doors.
He cited Guo’s record of lying when she faked her Filipino citizenship, and of fleeing her charges when she hid in Indonesia.
“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 and practically everything we asked her in the previous Senate hearings,” Estrada said.
“What assurance that she will be open, truthful, and cooperative this time?” he added.