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

“Wala naman po talaga kaming relasyon,” said Calugay during the inquiry conducted by the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality.

When Senator Joel Villanueva asked Calugay and Guo if they were “lovers in POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator),” Calugay responded, “Ay hindi po (no, we’re not).”

When asked whether he had a business agreement or even a joint bank account with Guo, Calugay replied, “Wala po, ni-isa po.”

“Merely Friends”

Calugay claimed they were merely friends, despite evidence presented by Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada. This evidence included images of them together in each other’s campaign caravans, wearing so-called couple or matching outfits, and using the same supplier for campaign freebies.

Guo denied, as she had in the previous session, that she was in a relationship with Calugay. “Hindi ko nga alam na may ganong picture po,” Guo told Estrada.

Calugay Denies Business Dealings with Guo Despite Evidence

Additionally, Mayor Calugay denied having any joint business dealings with Guo, claiming he had no knowledge of the ownership of the following businesses: Romanz Garden Inn, Happy Penguin Resort, AC Aqua Farm, Dee Aqua Farm, Licsel Fish Farm, Dongguo Fish Farm, Guco Aqua Farm, and Alisel Consumer Goods Trading Hardware and Construction Supplies.

According to Estrada, Calugay and Guo jointly own these businesses. “‘Yung Donguo, Dong and Guo, and Licsel, Alice and Liseldo. Tinalo niyo pa si DongYan ha,” the senator said.

“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?” asked Senator Risa Hontiveros.

“Wala po akong ganyang negosyo, your honor. Hindi po ako nagsisinungaling,” Calugay replied.

Calugay’s name had previously been mentioned in hearings after the panel discovered that his executive assistant, Cheryl Medina, had helped notarize Guo’s counter-affidavit against her non-bailable human trafficking case.

Guo was outside the country on August 14, the day the notarized affidavit was signed.

📷 Sen. Risa Hontiveros FB