Alice Guo was a Chinese spy, witness tells panel
CHINESE crime gang leader She Zhijiang's friend and former cellmate confirmed that dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo or Guo Hua Ping was a Chinese spy. Zhejiang appeared in the Al Jazeera documentary, revealing that Guo, like him, was also a spy for China's state security. At the same time, his friend and former jailmate Wang Fugui was made the guard of the top-secret files. In Tuesday's 15th hearing of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality into the illegal operations of POGOs, a Zoom interview with Wang was aired where he said he would fully cooperate with the Senate investigation. The committee hearing was presided over by its chairman, Sen. Risa Hontiveros. According to Wang, Guo Hua Ping was a spy, but it cannot be considered unique or special because they are in the same situation as She. Wang said that state security controls those who become field agents abroad through their secrets and weaknesses, like Guo, who used a fake Filipino identity. It is the same in She's situation. When Wang was asked how the POGOs are used for espionage in the country, he said it is part of the big intelligence strategic plan for colonization around the world. On what Guo Hua Ping's assignment was as a spy, Wang said these questions need to be asked directly to She himself, as he is in the know. While the overseas special agents recruited by China's State Security include spies who collect intelligence, many others work for the political and economic interests of the Chinese government, such as officials and businessmen in some countries. During the hearing, Hontiveros called on the Department of Foreign Affairs to arrange a meeting with Chinese Cambodian businessman She. She is known for his extensive gambling investments across Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, the Philippines and Myanmar. "The committee makes of record that it does not necessarily endorse the comments on the illegality of the arrest of [She's] or its motivations, geopolitical or otherwise. However, if our national security is implicated, we must listen and investigate further. Ignoring these questions that strike at the heart of our national security would be the height of folly," Hontiveros said in Filipino and English. The senator said the committee had validated some of the verifiable claims in both the Al Jazeera (Media Network) video and Wang Fugui's statement, such as the travel records of She and his deep ties to the Philippines. "This is clear as day: The Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) used local government unit officials and law enforcement. There are indications that foreign interests and nests of syndicates also used them," Hontiveros added. She is currently detained in Thailand and is fighting extradition to China over charges related to operating online gambling sites. During the hearing, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada grilled Alice Guo on allegations of her being a Chinese spy. While Guo denied involvement in espionage activities for China, Estrada expressed concerns about the possible existence of Chinese "sleeper cells" in the country. "This is a serious national security concern. There is a need to look closely into this and verify whether covert and illegal operations are being undertaken here as part of a foreign country's global influence operation. We must identify all those who exploited the vulnerabilities in our system either for personal gain or for the benefit of a foreign entity and make them accountable," Estrada said. The senator said he would pursue amendments to the 83-year-old Commonwealth Act 616, also known as the Espionage Law. He has introduced Senate Bill 2368, which aims to broaden the scope of the Espionage Act to encompass cyber espionage and impose harsher penalties on those who violate the law. Sen. Joel Villanueva reminded his fellow elected officials and government agencies that aside from the sworn duty to tell the truth, they have more extensive duties and responsibilities to the country and the Filipino people.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
CHINESE crime gang leader She Zhijiang's friend and former cellmate confirmed that dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo or Guo Hua Ping was a Chinese spy.
Zhejiang appeared in the Al Jazeera documentary, revealing that Guo, like him, was also a spy for China's state security. At the same time, his friend and former jailmate Wang Fugui was made the guard of the top-secret files.
In Tuesday's 15th hearing of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality into the illegal operations of POGOs, a Zoom interview with Wang was aired where he said he would fully cooperate with the Senate investigation.
The committee hearing was presided over by its chairman, Sen. Risa Hontiveros.
According to Wang, Guo Hua Ping was a spy, but it cannot be considered unique or special because they are in the same situation as She.
Wang said that state security controls those who become field agents abroad through their secrets and weaknesses, like Guo, who used a fake Filipino identity. It is the same in She's situation.
When Wang was asked how the POGOs are used for espionage in the country, he said it is part of the big intelligence strategic plan for colonization around the world.
On what Guo Hua Ping's assignment was as a spy, Wang said these questions need to be asked directly to She himself, as he is in the know. While the overseas special agents recruited by China's State Security include spies who collect intelligence, many others work for the political and economic interests of the Chinese government, such as officials and businessmen in some countries.
During the hearing, Hontiveros called on the Department of Foreign Affairs to arrange a meeting with Chinese Cambodian businessman She. She is known for his extensive gambling investments across Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, the Philippines and Myanmar.
"The committee makes of record that it does not necessarily endorse the comments on the illegality of the arrest of [She's] or its motivations, geopolitical or otherwise. However, if our national security is implicated, we must listen and investigate further. Ignoring these questions that strike at the heart of our national security would be the height of folly," Hontiveros said in Filipino and English.
The senator said the committee had validated some of the verifiable claims in both the Al Jazeera (Media Network) video and Wang Fugui's statement, such as the travel records of She and his deep ties to the Philippines.
"This is clear as day: The Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) used local government unit officials and law enforcement. There are indications that foreign interests and nests of syndicates also used them," Hontiveros added.
She is currently detained in Thailand and is fighting extradition to China over charges related to operating online gambling sites.
During the hearing, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada grilled Alice Guo on allegations of her being a Chinese spy.
While Guo denied involvement in espionage activities for China, Estrada expressed concerns about the possible existence of Chinese "sleeper cells" in the country.
"This is a serious national security concern. There is a need to look closely into this and verify whether covert and illegal operations are being undertaken here as part of a foreign country's global influence operation. We must identify all those who exploited the vulnerabilities in our system either for personal gain or for the benefit of a foreign entity and make them accountable," Estrada said.
The senator said he would pursue amendments to the 83-year-old Commonwealth Act 616, also known as the Espionage Law. He has introduced Senate Bill 2368, which aims to broaden the scope of the Espionage Act to encompass cyber espionage and impose harsher penalties on those who violate the law.
Sen. Joel Villanueva reminded his fellow elected officials and government agencies that aside from the sworn duty to tell the truth, they have more extensive duties and responsibilities to the country and the Filipino people.
