Read this in The Manila Times digital edition.
MEDIA enthusiasts would not likely attribute any deep implication from Al Jazeera had it just kept quiet on the Mayor Alice Guo investigation by Congress. Although the object of the congressional inquiry — Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and various criminal acts associated with their conduct — did have great national impact, it nonetheless was just a concern so domestic in character as to merit attention from an international media network, which Al Jazeera is. We may note that of the various international news outfits like BBC, Fox News or Reuters for instance, none had until now taken any interest on the controversy. In contrast, Al Jazeera had not only been at the frontlines of coverage of the congressional inquiry early on but had also been doing its share of sleuthing so as to unearth otherwise unknown information for demonizing the now-suspended Mayor Guo. It is through Al Jazeera that Congress gathered the revelation by a so-called She Zhejiang that Alice Guo is actually named Guo Hua Ping, whom She identified as a spy for the Communist Party of China (CPC) like him. In a video released by Al Jazeera, Zhejiang advises Alice to surrender for her own safety. Confronted with the video by the Congress quadcomm, Alice visibly fumed. She denied knowing Zhejiang, proclaimed she loved the Philippines and that she is no spy. Rep. Migz Nograles, albeit with sarcastic delight, asked, "Bakit ka nagagalit?" Visibly irked but keeping her cool, Alice proclaimed with voice quivering with purity of fervor, "I love the Philippines. I am no spy."
Asked what could be Zhejian's motive in implicating her, Alice lectured the lady lawmaker, "It will be better for you to ask who posted that video what his motive is in doing so."
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