Sual, Pangasinan Mayor Liseldo Calugay reiterated that he has no romantic relationship with dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo during a joint Senate hearing on Tuesday.
The hearing is part of the ongoing investigation into Guo's alleged involvement with illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
Senator Risa Hontiveros, Chair of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, questioned Calugay about how he would characterize his relationship with Guo.
"Opo, madame Chair, kaibigan lang po," Calugay responded, affirming that they are only friends.
During the session, both Hontiveros and Senator Jinggoy Estrada presented several photos showing Guo and Calugay wearing the same shirts and attending each other’s campaign caravans in 2022.
Calugay clarified that the shirt in question was simply given to him by Cheryl Medina, his staff, and explained that he was invited by Guo to her victory caravan.
"Madam Chair, 'yung picture na nakasakay ako sa sasakyan, 'yan po 'yung motorcade namin na ininvite ko po siya... ininvite rin po ako noong nanalo po siya," Calugay stated.
Hontiveros pressed further, asking why Guo gave him a shirt, considering that he is from a different province, and why Calugay chose to invite Guo to his victory parade.
Calugay maintained that he never wore the shirt during campaigning, saying, "Yun pong t-shirt na 'yan, hindi ko po sinusuot sa pangangampanya. 'Yan po ay nasa bahay po ako, madame Chair." However, Hontiveros pointed out that the photo showed the shirt with a logo of their municipality.
The hearing also revisited documents presented in the September session, which linked Calugay to an alleged business venture with Guo called "Alisel Aqua Farm," allegedly signed by Shiela Guo.
In the latest hearing, senators disclosed five other businesses registered under both mayors’ names in Sual, as shown in Department of Trade and Industry records signed by Calugay.
However, Calugay denied having any business dealings with Guo, maintaining that his name was used without his knowledge.
Cheryl Medina claimed responsibility for proposing the business arrangements, adding another layer of complexity to the case.
Guo also denied her romantic relationship with the Mayor.
