Sual mayor denies romantic, business links with Alice Guo

MANILA – Mayor Liseldo Calugay of Sual, Pangasinan on Tuesday denied a partnership of any kind with former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo during the continuing Senate hearing on illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) Tuesday.

They're just friends, Calugay insisted, despite the pieces of evidence presented by Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, including photos of them together in each other's campaign caravans, wearing so-called couple or identical shirts, and having the same supplier of campaign giveaways.

"Wala naman po talaga kaming relasyon (We aren't really in a relationship)," Calugay said when asked by senators what his relationship with Guo is during the inquiry conducted by the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality.

Like in the previous hearing, Guo denied anew that she is in a relationship with Calugay.

"Hindi ko nga alam na may ganong picture po (I don't even know that pictures like those exist)," Guo told Estrada.

Calugay likewise denied joint businesses dealings with Guo and said he has no idea who owns Alisel Aqua Farm, Alisel Consumer Goods Trading Hardware and Construction Supplies, D and A Medical Equipment and Supplies Trading, Romanz Garden Inn, Happy Penguin Resort, AC Aqua Farm, Dee Aqua Farm, Licsel Fish Farm, Dongguo Fish Farm, and Guco Aqua Farm.

Estrada said the business firms are jointly owned by Calugay and Guo.

"'Yung (The) Donguo, Dong and Guo, and Licsel, Alice and Liseldo. Tinalo niyo pa si DongYan ha (You even bested DongYan)" Estrada said of the play in their names, referring to actors and real-life couple Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera who are fondly called DongYan.

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros urged Calugay to be honest with his answers.

"Mayor, 'di ba itong lahat ng mga pangalang ito pati 'yung Dee Aqua Farm na may 15 units si Cheryl Medina sa Baquioen ay talagang mukhang pinagsamang mga pangalan ninyo (Aren't these business names including Dee Aqua Farm where Cheryl Medina owns 15 units in Baquioen really look like your names combined)?" Hontiveros asked.

"Wala po akong ganyang negosyo, your honor. Hindi po ako nagsisinungaling (I don't have any business like that, your honor. I am not lying)," Calugay replied.

Calugay's name was brought up in the previous hearings after the panel found out that Medina, his executive assistant, facilitated the notarization of Guo's counter-affidavit against her non-bailable human trafficking case.

At the time of the signing of the notarized affidavit on Aug. 14, Guo was out of the country. (PNA)