How 1998 suspect Mary Ann Maslog ended up testifying in Senate

Metro Manila, Philippines – Mary Ann Maslog, a suspect in a 1998 textbook scam case who was believed to be dead, made a surprising return to the public limelight when she testified in a Senate investigation on illegal offshore gaming operations, specifically those allegedly involving dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.

But why was Maslog invited to the hearing?

Senator Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality, said Maslog volunteered to disclose her supposed connection to Guo, also known as Chinese national Guo Hua Ping, and her alleged associate, Sual, Pangasinan Mayor Dong Calugay.

“Right after siya inaresto ng NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) lumitaw sa sarili niyang statements na kilala daw niya si Guo Hua Ping, kilala daw niya si Mayor Calugay,” Hontiveros said in a press conference on Thursday.

“Nakipagmeet na raw siya sa kanila at meron siyang gustong gawin para sa kanila,” Hontiveros added.

[Translation: Right after she was arrested by the NBI, she claimed in her own statements that she knew Guo Hua Ping and Mayor Calugay. She said that she had already met with them and that she wanted to do something for them.]

Why Maslog chose to reveal this information remains unclear.

On Wednesday, Senator Jinggoy Estrada revealed “unverified” reports suggesting that Maslog helped Guo escape the country in July. Hontiveros noted that this information is still for validation

Although Maslog's credibility is in question, Hontiveros said she will still be invited to the next hearing. The committee will just have to “sift through” the various information, Hontiveros said.

Questions surrounding Maslog

When Maslog faced the hearing on Tuesday, she claimed to have been tapped by the Philippine National Police Intelligence Group (PNP-IG) to assist in locating Guo, who had escaped the country. The officer-in-charge of the PNP-IG, PBGEN. Romeo Macapaz refuted this, saying Maslog approached them and introduced herself as “Jessica Francisco.”

What baffled lawmakers further was that after Guo was arrested, Maslog managed to visit her at the PNP Custodial Center, accompanied by the PNP-IG.

“Hindi po acceptable yung ganoon… Kaduda duda yung taong yun (That is not acceptable... That person is suspicious),” Hontiveros said.

She said the committee will look into the possible liability of PNP-IG officials who will be summoned to the next hearing.

Hontiveros said the committee is also considering inviting former Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon, as Maslog named him during the last hearing as having connections to Guo. The former mayor admitted she did mention Faeldon to Maslog, but only because he has a goat farm in Bamban.

Hontiveros said the committee will also investigate Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa's claim that Maslog received orders from “someone from Malacañang” to persuade Guo into implicating him, Senator Bong Go, former President Duterte, and PMGen Romeo Caramat in illegal POGOs — an allegation that Maslog has denied.