Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada dropped key details about the person believed to have helped former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo escape the Philippines. During separate interviews on Tuesday, the senators hinted that this individual, whom Guo identified, has a “Chinese name” and is potentially a Chinese national.
Villanueva, in an ambush interview, confirmed that the name Guo provided was Chinese. He was asked if this person could be Huang Zhiyang, a Chinese fugitive found with five passports during a raid by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) in Pampanga in June. Villanueva replied, “It’s a Chinese name.”
Estrada, speaking at a press conference, added that the person in question is a “foreigner, a Chinese national,” and is believed to have fled to Taiwan. Estrada further hinted that the individual might be connected to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), referring to the person as “the boss of all the bosses of POGO.” When asked if this person was Huang Zhiyang, he responded, “most probably.”
During a Senate hearing on Monday, Guo revealed that her escape involved boat transfers starting with a yacht in Metro Manila. Although she refused to publicly name the person who facilitated her departure, she later wrote the individual’s name on a piece of paper after being pressed by senators. Guo clarified that the person was not with her during the escape, and only an Asian woman accompanied her.
Guo explained that the person who arranged the escape “initiated” it after a confrontation, and she believed they helped her out of guilt over her situation. Despite her refusal to disclose the name publicly, Senator Risa Hontiveros stated that the person Guo mentioned had been discussed in prior hearings.
Estrada provided additional details, saying that the individual Guo identified holds passports from countries including Saint Kitts and Nevis, China, Cyprus, Dominica, and Cambodia.
Hontiveros had previously revealed documents from Baofu Land Development Inc. showing that Huang Zhiyang was a co-incorporator with Guo. Huang is also one of the respondents in the human trafficking case filed against Guo with the Department of Justice.
Guo, however, denied any involvement of Filipino officials in her escape.