LIVE: Senate hearing on Alice Guo’s escape, POGOs

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality with the Committees on Migrant Workers; and Public Order and Dangerous Drugs are leading the inquiry into the escape of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo on Monday morning, September 9. 

Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros is leading the investigation with Guo expected to attend the hearing wearing bulletproof vest and handcuffs.

This will be the first time Guo is attending the hearing since May after evading the Senate investigations and fleeing overseas in July.

Guo was arrested in Tangerang City near midnight of September 3 and returned to Manila in a chartered private plane on September 6.

The former mayor was supposed to be under the custody of Senate as it was initially the only body that has an arrest order against Guo. However, the Tarlac court has issued also issued an arrest warrant for Guo on charges of graft and corruption.

She is now in the custody of the Philippine National Police.

At the Senate hearing today, the lawmakers are expected to probe how Guo evaded the authorities and successfully managed to exit the country. She will be also asked about her ties to Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hubs in Bamban and Porac, Pampanga.

Watch the Senate hearing at 10 a.m.