MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government will be more vigilant in the future amid questions on the citizenship of Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.

According to Marcos, the investigation into the identity and citizenship of Guo will continue until the government gets the answers it needs.

“Well matagal na naming iniimbestigahan ‘yan, kaya nga nahuli ‘yan eh, kasi ni-raid namin ‘yan sa Bamban eh. Nakita natin ‘yan, ‘yung mga dokumento, kinukwestiyon natin ‘yan na talagang totoo ba ito, at saka ‘yung sa mayor dahil kilala ko lahat ang mga (taga) Tarlac. Pero maraming hindi kilala sa kanya, saan nanggaling ito, bakit nagka-ganito. Hindi namin malaman, kaya kailangan imbestigahan,” he said.

“So kasabay noong sa Bureau of Immigration, pati siguro iku-kwestyon ng citizenship, doon lahat sa iimbestigahan natin, kasama ang ibang ahensya,” Marcos added.

The President also said the government should be more vigilant to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

“Hihigpitan natin, nandiyan naman ‘yung batas eh. Hindi tayo nakabantay nang mabuti, ‘yun ang problema, at siguro pinapabayaan rin noong iba, nagpapabayad sila ganoon, nasusuhulan kaya ‘yun ang babatayan natin na hindi na mangyari uli ‘yan. Mababawasan ang incidents ng pagpasok ng kung sinoman, hindi necessary isang bansa lamang, kahit sinomang foreign national at nagpapanggap na Filipino ay talagang titingnan nation nang mabuti,” Marcos explained.

Guo faced the Senate last week to answer allegations that she was backing a POGO operation in Bamban that was raided last March, where authorities found evidence of human trafficking, serious illegal detention, physical abuse, and even torture.

'POGO-politics': Suspected China ties of Tarlac town mayor alarms solon

But Sen. Risa Hontiveros zeroed in on Guo's personal background after receiving reports that the mayor "came out of nowhere" last 2022 elections.

Guo's apparent evasiveness to disclose her background at the Senate raised even more suspicion from the public.

Hontiveros questions nationality of Bamban mayor linked to POGOs

Based on Comelec records, Guo declared that she is a Filipino citizen in her certificate of candidacy.

The Comelec added that no one challenged Guo's qualification last election, allowing her to run and eventually win the position.

Tarlac mayor Alice Guo's COC: 'I am a Filipino citizen'

SolGen probes Bamban Mayor Alice Guo over shady background

For acquaintances, Mayor Alice Guo a 'good person', 'long-time resident'