Hontiveros to Guo: We never picked on you, but liars irk us

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Risa Hontiveros snapped back at Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo's Facebook post alluding to some lawmakers «boosting their political ambitions» amid the Senate investigation on issues surrounding Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs).

«You lied about your connection to POGO, you lied about your identity, and every time you log in to Facebook, you invent something new. Don't worry; we are not fixated on you. We are just allergic to liars,» Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros, who heads the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, leads the inquiry into the alleged connection of Guo to POGO-related crimes.

«Mayor Alice Guo or Guo Hua Ping, you have more posts on Facebook than attendance at Senate hearings. Attendance before the Senate hearings is adherence to the rule of law,» Hontiveros said.

She told Guo: «Your frequent social media posts do not equate to her attendance in the Senate. How can you have peace of mind if you always avoid questions? In case you forgot, you are being summoned because you are in the middle of the POGO abuses of our laws, which you allowed to expand due to your influence as Mayor.»

In her latest Facebook post, Guo stated: «I regret that I was unable to attend the last two Senate hearings due to the severe exhaustion and trauma I have experienced following the earlier hearings and numerous cases filed against me. My primary priority now is my health and peace of mind, so that I can properly address all the legal issues directed at me.

»While multiple open cases have been filed against me, I am deeply concerned about and keep questioning why Senator Win Gatchalian, Senator Risa Hontiveros, and the other offices seem fixated on me. If they have evidence against me, I am ready to face them in a fair trial and at a proper forum.

«Respectfully, I do not wish to be used by anyone to boost their political ambitions. Our country faces many critical issues such as national security, poverty, unemployment, food shortage, healthcare delivery, environmental degradation, and human rights violations. I appeal to them to focus their attention on these problems instead of continuously