Suspended Mayor Alice Guo Misses Deadline, Faces Legal Issues

Suspended Mayor Alice Guo of Bamban, Tarlac, failed yet again on Tuesday to submit her counteraffidavit concerning the qualified human trafficking charges linked to her alleged involvement with an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) in her town. Consequently, the Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors denied her further extensions.

Assistant Justice Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano IV informed reporters that Guo and three Chinese incorporators of the Pogo Hub’s company did not present their responses during the preliminary investigation.

In contrast, former Technology Resource Center head Dennis Cunanan and two other respondents received a 10-day extension until August 16 to file their responses.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, who leads the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality, cited Guo for contempt after she missed a Senate hearing on July 10 and has not been seen in public since May. This non-compliance puts Guo at risk of arrest.

Reports reveal Guo’s involvement with the lessor company and link her to documents discovered at the Pogo site. Pogo operator Hongsheng allegedly changed its name to Zun Yuan Technology Inc. after a raid in February 2023.

Separately, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has approved a complaint against Guo for “material misrepresentation” in her 2022 election certificate of candidacy (COC). The Comelec en banc agreed with the law department’s recommendation to file the complaint and start a preliminary investigation into Guo’s violation of Sections 74 and 262 of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC).

Section 74 outlines the required information for a COC, while Section 262 details the penalties for violations, including imprisonment, disqualification from public office, and loss of voting rights.

When asked about Guo’s eligibility for the 2025 elections, Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia said all COCs would be accepted but could be challenged. He warned that misrepresentation in future COCs could lead to criminal charges even if the candidate wins.

The Comelec law department, led by director Maria Norina Tangaro-Casingal, will manage the complaint and preliminary investigation, allowing Guo to respond. A fact-finding committee reported sufficient grounds for the investigation, questioning Guo’s claim of being a natural-born Filipino and long-term resident. Evidence indicates she is a Chinese national born in Fujian, China, in 1990.

The committee’s report noted discrepancies in Guo’s COC and findings from the National Bureau of Investigation, showing her as a Chinese citizen with matching fingerprints on official documents.

Source: Inquirer.net