Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Bamban Mayor Alice Guo. ABS-CBN News/file

MANILA — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., who hails from Tarlac, on Friday said he does not know Bamban Mayor Alice Guo.

Bamban is a second-class town in the province of Tarlac.

“Hindi ko kilala [ang family]. Wala akong kakilalang ganyan. Nagulat lang ako na may ganyan. Nakalulungkot na sa lalawigan ko pa nangyari. Kaya ang katanungan ng marami kong kababayan sa probinsya, paano nangyayari ito sa lalawigan?” Teodoro told reporters on the sidelines of the awarding ceremony for outstanding cadets at the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City.

Teodoro served as a three-term congressman, representing the 1st District of Tarlac, from 1998 to 2007.

Over the past few days, Guo’s identity has been questioned amid the Senate inquiry into her alleged links to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) companies at the Baofu Compound, just behind the Bamban town hall.

These were raided by law enforcers in February 2023 and March 2024 in connection with allegations of human trafficking and serious human illegal detention.

Teodoro suspects there are other personalities behind the illegal activities in the town.

“May accountability dapat ang LGU hanggang sa taas dito, dahil imposibleng si Mayor Guo lamang ang may kinalaman dito. Pati ang mga dating PNP. Paanong lumusot ito sa kanila? Ang gawain dito, hindi POGO ha, scam. Human trafficking, may mga chamber na hindi kanais-nais sa ilalim ng lupa. Nakakabahala ito,” he said.

“Hindi ko masasabi [na may higher government officials involved] pero for me, a thorough investigation must be made kasi imposibleng tumakbo ito na walang pahintulot or pagkukunsinti ng kung sino man, maging local and provincial level, and the PNP before, and the national. Bakit kailangan ang PAOCC ang mag-operate dito? Kailangan kusa na nilang niregulate ito,” he continued.

Teodoro said concerned government agencies are conducting a thorough investigation into the identity of Guo.

“Nasabi na ng presidente na kailangan imbestigahan si Mayor Alice Guo kung ano ang tunay na kanyang pagkatao. Pinag-iigting ng PAOCC na imbestigahan ang maraming klase ng pekeng Pilipino… For me, it is a question of governance na kailangan magkaroon ng tugon ang mga kinauukulan. Ito ay matinding iniimbestgahan ng PAOCC at ng Solicitor General ngayon,” Teodoro said.

“Tulad din ng pag-iimbestiga ng lahat ng gobyerno sa illegal activities ng Chinese nationals at mga subersibong elemento nila, pati na ang fake news na kinakalat nila sa kanilang mga paid outlets na aming, in a whole of government approach, masusing pinag-aaralan dahil ito ay matinding katotohanan na dapat nating bantayan,” he added.

Asked whether he believes Guo could be a “Chinese asset”, Teodoro answered: “Que Chinese agent, que hindi, ibang usapan ‘yon. Ang usapan may kinalaman siya sa illegal na gawain sa kanyang bakuran, at ang illegal na gawain ay naninira ng fabric ng ating lipunan. Pag ganun, mas madali tayong itulak-tulak ng mga Chinese. Hindi ito mga klase ng establisimyento na ganito ang gusto ng kahit sinumang probinsya.”