A House Quad Committee member, Rep. Rodge Gutierrez of 1-Rider Party-list, expressed doubt that the arrested scam suspect Mary Ann Maslog will aid in the probe on POGO-related crimes and former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.
Gutierrez questioned whether Maslog has any knowledge related to POGOs.
His statement followed Tuesday’s Senate hearing where Maslog admitted being tapped by the Philippine National Police Intelligence Group to negotiate Alice Guo’s surrender while she was in hiding in Indonesia—a claim the PNP denied.
Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa revealed that he received information that Malacañang allegedly tapped Maslog to link former President Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Bong Go, and PMaj. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr. to POGO-related crimes and Alice Guo.
However, Gutierrez questioned why Maslog would be involved if these personalities had no connection to the issue.
Gutierrez also mentioned Maslog’s involvement in a textbook scam in 1998, which was dismissed by the Sandiganbayan after reports surfaced that she had died in 2019.
However, on September 25, the National Bureau of Investigation arrested Maslog after verifying her identity through fingerprints.
Gutierrez said the Quad Committee welcomes former President Duterte’s offer to attend the hearing and assured that the questions would be respectful and well-informed.
He also noted that it is too early to doubt Duterte’s sincerity in attending the QuadComm hearings.
The committee is set to resume its POGO investigation on Friday, October 11.