MANILA — Frustrated by her evasive answers and lack of cooperation, the House Quad Committee cited dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo in contempt on Thursday night, ordering her detention.

As of press time, the panel has yet to decide on Guo’s place of detention, pending clearance from the agency currently holding her in custody.

Guo is under investigation for alleged involvement in illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and other criminal activities.

The joint panel, which is probing the rise of illegal POGO-related crimes, continues to deliberate on where Guo should be detained, given ongoing jurisdictional questions over her custody.

Guo remains under the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s custody due to human trafficking charges, along with a separate contempt order issued by the Senate.

Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, overall chair of the Quad Committee, approved the motion by Abang Lingkod Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano to cite Guo in contempt, under Section 11, Paragraph C of the House Rules of Procedure Governing Inquiries in Aid of Legislation.

“There is a motion to cite Alice Guo, a.k.a. Guo Hua Ping, in contempt. Are there any objections? Hearing none, the motion is approved,” Barbers declared.

In a follow-up motion, Paduano also moved that Guo be detained until the committee’s investigation is completed and its report is adopted by the plenary, a motion Barbers likewise approved.

During the hearing, Paduano, in support of Nueva Ecija 3rd District Rep. Emerson Pascual’s interpellation, raised concerns about Guo’s refusal to post bail, despite the relatively low amount of ₱180,000.

He speculated that Guo deliberately avoided posting bail to remain at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

“Hindi ka nag-bail kasi mas gusto mong naka-detain doon sa PNP custodial facility kaya hindi ka nag-bail. Ayan ang totoong kwento doon. Huwag na tayo maglokohan dito,” Paduano stated.

“Again, you’re lying. You’re fooling this country, you’re fooling the Filipino people,” he added.

Earlier in the hearing, the Quad Committee confirmed that Guo, a Chinese national, had exploited loopholes in the Philippine legal and identification systems to establish businesses suspected of ties to illegal syndicates.

At the center of multiple criminal investigations, Guo has drawn public outrage for her alleged role in human trafficking and illegal POGO operations.

She is accused of facilitating the entry of foreign workers, many of whom are believed to be involved in illegal activities such as prostitution and fraud, under the pretense of legal employment.

Authorities suspect Guo’s close ties to powerful syndicates operating within the country, and that her businesses may have served as fronts for various illicit operations.

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