Textbook scam suspect flew to Indonesia, met with Alice Guo

MANILA, Philippines — Mary Ann Maslog, the suspect in the 1998 textbook scam, reportedly flew to Indonesia to meet with dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo. 

Maslog, who has adopted the alias Jessica Francisco, was recently detained by Philippine authorities for another scam. 

So what does the alleged 1998 textbook scammer have to do with Guo? That is what the Senate wants to know. 

Maslog, wearing a bulletproof vest, made an appearance at today’s Senate hearing on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs). 

During the hearing, Maslog, who consistently claimed that she was Francisco, claimed that she traveled to Indonesia to speak to Guo when news broke out that the former mayor had fled the Philippines.

The Bureau of Immigration confirmed that Maslog was able to fly to Indonesia using her alias, Francisco. 

However, details about why she decided to meet with Guo remain murky. 

“Weeks prior to Indonesia, I was tapped to possibly talk to Alice,” Maslog said. 

When pressed about who tapped her, Maslog claimed it was the Philippine National Police (PNP) Intelligence Group, specifically officer-in-charge Gen. Romeo Macapaz.

She said the PNP knew she was close to Sual, Pangasinan Mayor Liseldo Calugay, who has been suspected to be Guo’s boyfriend.

A video call from Macapaz debunked this, saying it was Maslog that contacted the PNP. 

Maslog also claimed that Guo signified via call that the latter wanted to surrender. However, Guo wanted to write down what happened to her. 

Senators were quick to point out that Guo was already detained by Indonesian authorities, making it unnecessary for her to surrender.

“Who are you to do so? Who are you to mediate? Did Secretary [Benjamin] Abalos or the chief PNP give you the go signal to talk to her? I don’t think so,” Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada. 

“I was just helping,” the alleged scammer said.  

Sen. Bato dela Rosa seemed to have his own suspicions. The PNP chief turned senator said that Maslog also visited Guo while she was in detention in the Philippines, which Guo confirmed. 

Dela Rosa accused Maslog of acting on the orders of Malacañang.

Dela Rosa said that Maslog wanted to make Guo sign an affidavit