Senator JV Ejercito is in favor of holding an executive session as requested by the camp of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, in addition to a public investigation into illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) activities in the country.
"Ako po, kung malalaman natin at talagang ikakanta niya ‘yung talagang big bosses nitong mga criminal syndicate ay siguro pwede nating mapagbigyan [ang executive session], kung ‘yun po ang magiging pakay natin, malaman ang talagang mga masterminds," Ejercito said during an exclusive interview with DZRH for Damdaming Bayan on Monday.
According to Ejercito, he is not taking sides with the former mayor but believes she is not the most guilty in the illegal POGO activities in the country. He added that she appears to be merely a pawn in a larger web of international criminal syndicates.
"Ang importante dito malaman natin 'yung talagang mastermind dahil ako'y tingin ko hindi niya kakayanin na siya mismo ang pinakamatermind nang lahat ng krimen na ito," Ejercito stated.
Ejercito believes that the entities behind POGO operations in the country are international crime syndicates, as POGO, originally an illegal foreign enterprise, was legalized but subsequently abused.
Ejercito reiterated that it is important to identify the mastermind behind these illegal activities, whether Alice Guo was planted by China or the People's Liberation Army to act as a 'spy,' and who assisted her in fleeing the country recently.
He further emphasized the need to determine who assisted her in her escape, especially if they were government officials or employees, to prevent similar occurrences involving other high-value criminals in the country.
"Mukhang trained po siya [Alice Guo] na huwag sumagot pero kahit papaano may nakukuha tayo dahan-dahan, siguro kailangan lang pagtyagaan," said Ejercito.
The next Senate Committee hearing on illegal POGO operations is scheduled for tomorrow, September 17. The committee has not yet decided whether to hold an executive session.
