Alice Guo Denies Having Relationship with Pangasinan Mayor Dong Calugay

September 11, 2024 Philippines Crime & Legal

Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo firmly denied owning Alisel Aquafarm in Sual, Pangasinan, or having any romantic relationship with Sual Mayor Liseldo “Dong” Calugay during a Senate probe on September 9, 2024.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada questioned Guo about her connection with Calugay and the alleged aquafarm. Estrada asked if Guo knew Calugay’s full name. “Magkaibigan kayo, hindi mo alam yung tunay na pangalan niya? Dong lang ang alam mo. Hindi, ang tinatanong ko, the real name,” (You’re friends, and you don’t know his real name? You only know him as Dong? No, I’m asking for the real name.) he said, according to a report published by the Inquirer.

Guo responded that she did not know Calugay’s full name. Estrada chided her by saying, “Hanggang pati ba naman sa pangalan ng boyfriend mo nagsisinungaling ka pa?” (Even with the name of your boyfriend you’re still lying?)

Guo, whose real name is believed to Guo Hua Ping, insisted, “Sir, hindi ko po talaga siya boyfriend” (Sir, he is really not my boyfriend).

Estrada then probed whether Guo was aware of Alisel Aquafarm. Guo claimed she knew nothing about the business. Estrada pointed out that the name “Alisel” could be a combination of “Alice” and “Liseldo.”

He asked, “Kasi if you coined the name Alisel, Alice stands for Alice and Sel stands for Liseldo. Tama? Are you aware of that? Hindi po ba kayo ang owner? Alice Guo and Liseldo Calugay?” (Because if you coined the name Alisel, Alice stands for Alice and Sel stands for Liseldo. Right? Are you aware of that? Aren’t you the owner, Alice Guo and Liseldo Calugay?)

Guo again denied owning the aquafarm, stating, “Wala po akong aquafarm po doon sa place nila” (I do not have an aquafarm in their place). She added that there were proposals for an aquafarm but she could not recall details or whether they materialized.

A business certificate from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) listed Shiela Guo, Alice’s purported sister, as the owner of Alisel Aquafarm. Shiela previously stated that she was not the owner but only signed documents related to it at Alice’s request. Senator Joel Villanueva noted this clarification, mentioning Shiela’s earlier statement about knowing nothing of the farm.

Senator Risa Hontiveros previously revealed that Calugay might have been involved in Guo’s escape from the Philippines. Calugay, who missed a Senate hearing on September 5 due to dengue, has been subpoenaed for failing to attend the probe.

In response to questions about the nature of her relationship with Calugay, Guo described them as friends. “Higit sa pagkakaibigan?” Estrada asked. (More than friendship?)

“Kaibigan,” stated Guo. “Hindi ko po siya boyfriend.”

She acknowledged photos of them together but explained they were taken at a local event, “Kasalan sa Bayan,” and included other politicians.

Estrada also showed photos of flowers allegedly from Calugay. “Ang daming bulaklak o. Sana all. Tapos tinanggap mo, tama? Ngayon inaamin mo ba na wala kayong relasyon?” Estrada said. (These are a lot of flowers. Wish all had those too. Then you received them, right? Now are you admitting that you have no relationship?)

Guo denied any romantic implications, stating, “Hindi po tama ‘yung amin, dahil wala naman po kaming relasyon” (It is not right to say I am admitting because we do not have a relationship).

Through Executive Order No. 045, Calugay ordered the designation of Vice Mayor John Christopher Arcinue as acting municipal mayor of Sual from September 9 to 13. The 53-year-old Sual mayor submitted a medical certificate indicating that he had dengue fever.

The Senate committee has issued a subpoena against Calugay for failing to attend the hearing.