Sen. Gatchalian Considers Mayor Alice Guo’s Letter To Senate Pres. Escudero “Empty Letter”
ALICE GUO – The camp of the suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor wrote a letter to Senate President Chiz Escudero according to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.
One of the people linked to the illegal operations of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in Tarlac is suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Guo. Currently, there is a pending Senate arrest order against Mayor Guo.
The Senate’s Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms visited all the registered addresses of Mayor Guo but they were not able to locate the suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor. They also visited the farm of the Mayor as well as her garments factories but found no avail.
The arrest order was issued by the Senate after Guo was cited for contempt following her absence at the Senate hearings. According to Attorney Stephen David, the lawyer of the suspended Mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, his client is “traumatized” for how she was treated. David also claimed that Mayor Guo is both physically and emotionally drained by the many allegations against her.
Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero, even prior to Guo being cited for contempt, expressed his willingness to sign an arrest order in case the senators will request for it. He stressed that it is not the call of the person being summoned whether to attend to a hearing or not.
Amid a pending arrest order, Mayor Guo previously released a statement and said that she is choosing her health and her peace of mind. According to the suspended Mayor, she is ready to face the accusations against her if there is an evidence.
Currently, there are still no reports as to where suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo is right now. Her lawyer previously expressed his hope that Mayor Guo will surrender to the Senate authorities to avoid the “fugitive” tag.
Recently, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian revealed that Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero received a letter from the camp of Mayor Alice Guo. Based on a report on GMA News, Sen. Gatchalian said that the lawyer of Mayor Guo explained her absence to the Senate hearings.
Furthermore, the lawyer of Mayor Guo also expressed that it was not her intention to disrespect the Senate or disregard the process in the country. However, based on the report, the letter of Go did not mention if she will attend the next Senate hearing so Sen. Gatchalian find it an “empty letter”.
Gatchalian also said that Guo did not mention her next step as well. The next Senate hearing is scheduled July 29.