Mary Ann Maslog, who claims to have been recruited by the Philippine National Police as a mediator for Alice Guo's surrender during her escape, divulged to senators on Tuesday (October 8) the connection that supposedly allowed her to contact the dismissed mayor.

Maslog, who previously made headlines for a graft case in relation to the 1998 textbook scam and faking her own death in 2019, said she is friends with Sual mayor Dong Calugay.

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"I talked to Mayor Calugay if there is a way for him to contact Miss Alice," she told the Senate panel led by Sen. Risa Hontiveros.

Hontiveros asked why she thought Calugay would be able to communicate with Guo despite her being in hiding, prompting Maslog's candid revelation of what she knew to be their ties.

"Your honor, I was told po that they had a relationship. Ang pagkakaalam ko po — but I've never seen them together — but I would tell you... Ang pagkakaalam ko po, naging mag-on po sila," she said.

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Guo, who has repeatedly denied having romantic or business involvement with Calugay, was seen laughing at Maslog's statement.

"Kinikilig 'to si Alice Guo, o, kita mo!" Senate President Pro Tempore Estrada observed. "She's squirming!"

Guo answered, "Natatawa po ako, your honor!"

In past hearings, Calugay also insisted being only friends with Guo, saying they were never in a relationship and belying documents supposedly indicating joint ventures with portmanteaus of their names.