Davila, Goh sought to clarify the allegations being thrown against her.

This report.

An elected official from a small town in the Philippine province of Tarlac right in the middle of a huge controversy. After days of being out of the public eye, Bonbon Mayor Alice Goh finally breaks her silence on questions about her citizenship and her alleged links to illegal Philippine offshore gaming operations. In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN News, Goh revealed her biological mother is a Filipino who was once a domestic helper in her father's household. She says she did not disclose that fact to the Senate out of fear of being judged.

Mayor Goh also apologized to Senator Risa

Hontiveros, the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, who's leading the investigation into the local leader's shadowy background.

Goh was thrust into the national spotlight during a

Senate hearing where she was accused of being a protector of illegal pogos in

Tarlac. Questions about her background quickly turned into speculations she could be a Chinese spy.

In Singapore, I only have one passport. I am a Filipino. Now, I'm against. As long as I'm the mayor, I will no longer allow any pogo operation in my town. Before, ma'am, the reason why when ZUNON technology

Despite all the allegations being hurled at her, Goh is standing her ground.

I will continue serving my constituents. Are you going to run again for mayor in 2025? Yes, ma'am. Meanwhile, the Philippine Interior Department is pushing through with its probe into Goh's background. The agency says the investigation will determine if Goh's claims about her personal life are true.

The DILG has created a task force to probe Goh's links to pogos in her town and has recommended her suspension to the ombudsman.

In the investigation, we will validate all the news and information that comes out.

Not only the DILG, but also other government agencies are helping to find out the truth about her citizenship.

Meantime, fresh allegations are hurled against a battled mayor. Senator Rotiveros has flagged Goh's alleged ties to criminals.

She says one of Goh's business partners, Chinese national Zhang Ruijin, was convicted of the biggest money laundering case in Singapore.

Another of Goh's associates, Dominican national Bao Ying Lin, also facing charges.

Rotiveros wants to know if these ties allowed Goh to afford a lavish lifestyle, which include owning a chopper and luxury cars.

The Senate is set to hold another hearing into her alleged link to illegal offshore gaming operators.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jeng Goy Estrada denies outside forces influenced a leadership change in the upper chamber.

Estrada refused to say what happened behind the scenes, but he made it clear Malacanang and House Speaker Martin Romualdez had no hand in the Senate's affairs.

He also denies initiating the ouster of then-Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.

The news that I instigated, that I initiated the coup d'etat against Senator Migs is not true.

I am denying it outright. I had no hand. I never initiated or instigated the ouster of Senate President Zubiri.

New Senate President Francis Escudero also denying that outside forces had something to do with the leadership change.

The Philippine poll body logs 400,000 attempts to hack and manipulate its website in April alone.

Camalec Chair George Garcia says a surge in hacking attempts comes after the agency recorded 3 million attempts last December.

But he assures the public the Camalec's IT personnel are capable of keeping hackers out of its systems.

In 2022, Camalec logged 35 million hacking attempts after launching its Precinct Finder.

The Philippines does not plan to impose travel restrictions amid the increasing number of COVID-19 cases driven by new variants.

The Health Department says it is coordinating closely with the Quarantine Bureau.

The agency adds it is keeping watch on nationwide entry points.

The U.S. has warned a small wave of coronavirus cases could hit the country due to the KP2 and KP3 variants, collectively known as the FLIRT variants.

Singapore is also seeing a surge in new COVID infections.

The U.S. has warned a small wave of coronavirus cases could hit the country due to the KP2 and KP3 variants, collectively known as the FLIRT variants.

The U.S. has warned a small wave of coronavirus cases could hit the country due to the KP2 and KP3 variants, collectively known as the FLIRT variants.