Lapid denies Pogo links as Senate probes Porac hub | Butch Fernandez (2024)

SAYING he will resign if allegations of him owning the land hosting the raided Pogo hub in Porac, Pampanga are true, Sen. Lito Lapid on Wednesday strongly denied the claim by an unnamed vlogger linking him to the enclave.

Lapid, who is seeking reelection in 2025, said he had served as Pampanga vice governor for three years and governor for three terms, and “ will not allow my name to be ruined here,” over allegations of involvement in the Porac hub, raided recently by an interagency unit that had earlier shut down another huge enclave in Bamban, Tarlac.

Lapid made the denial at Wednesday’s hearing of the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, which is probing the alleged criminal activities perpetuated by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos).

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who was presiding, ordered the issuance of subpoena on suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Leal Guo who failed to attend a Senate hearing on alleged human trafficking, cyber fraud operations, scamming and money laundering activities.

Hontiveros called out Guo at the end of the hearing and threatened to cite her for contempt if she does not heed the subpoena.

The senator also ordered the issuance of subpoena against Guo Jian Zhong, Sheila Guo, Wesley Guo and other resource persons who failed to attend the public hearing. Hontiveros said she wanted Alice Guo to clarify a number of issues, including the identity of two Alice Leal Guo, both born on July 12, 1986 in Tarlac.

“Is it a coincidence that this National Bureau of Investigation clearance was applied for just a few days before the date of filing of the delayed registration of birth of the other Alice Leal Guo in Tarlac City? Or is this a case of stolen identity? Why does Guo Hua Ping need to steal the identity of Miss Alice Leal Guo when she already has a validly issued investor’s visa that will allow her to stay here? Who is this girl whose name is Alice Leal Guo but doesn’t look like the Mayor. Where is she now?” Hontiveros asked.

Thesenator said they had found another connection that is disturbing because it has to do with a massive investigation by the Senate during the last Congress and will release it at the right time.

Meanwhile, Senators Grace L. Poe and Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito weighed in on the call to ban Pogo operations in the country.

“I just want to say that it shows that there is corruption, and people in the government have been involved. There are talks about national security risk, but let’s not divert the issue on what the Pogo actually does,” Poe said in Filipino.

“Today, I reiterate my call, together with our colleagues that have signed the resolution…proposed by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian. Please…we have to ban Pogos,” she stressed.

For his part, Senator Ejercito said government needs to hasten the phaseout due to the negative effects on the country.

“The committee has uncovered and discovered not just the material facts and information to prove the involvement of Mayor Guo, but also compelling and disturbing reasons that call for government’s policy shift on Pogo operations,” he added.

Also on Wednesday, Sen. Win Gatchalian noted the chilling implications of having the country’s system of late registration of birth certificates being taken advantage of by those who should not be Filipinos.

The senator said that once one becomes a Filipino, a rogue alien can take over a business, buy land, invest in different companies, get an NBI clearance and even run as a public servant. “It has been happening again and again,” Gatchalian said in Filipino, stressing that POGO hubs in Bamban, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga were raided several times.

“These criminal syndicates will not stop because of the amount of money that comes in and circulates. And we have also seen that it does not go through formal channels, does not appear in their income statements. It comes in without us seeing it, they use it to build these Pogo hubs and it’s scary because they can also use it to bribe or buy influence,” he said. “They are coming in, doing bad things and their connections are getting deeper,” he added.

Image credits: Roy Domingo