Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo Absent at Senate Hearing Today
MAYOR ALICE GUO – The Senate Panel cited the Bamban, Tarlac Mayor in contempt following her absence at the hearing set today.
The name of Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Guo rings loud in the Philippines now amid the allegations against the politician. There are accusations linking her to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country.
Guo is the mayor of Bamban, Tarlac since 2022. Aside from her alleged involved in the POGOs in the country, the Mayor is also being questioned regarding her identity. According to her, she cannot recall the location where she was born in the country.
Based on the Birth Certificate of Mayor Alice Guo, she was born in Barangay Matatalaib in Tarlac, which was a municipality then. The wealth of the Mayor who owns massive real estate properties is also being questioned. She has a multi-million net worth.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) previously confirmed that Mayor Guo’s fingerprints matched with the fingerprints of Guo Hua Ping. The probe on the allegations against the Mayor is ongoing and a Senate hearing was set today.
However, Mayor Alice Guo did not show up at the Senate hearing set today. Priort to it, the lawyers of Mayor Guo announced that she will skip the Senate hearing as she was “traumatized” by how she was treated. The legal counsel of the Mayor also said that she is emotionally and physically drained by the allegations.
Senator Risa Hontiveros reminded Guo and her camp of their obligation to respect the laws in the Philippines. She also did not recognize the move as self-incrimination which was the reason asserted by the camp of the Mayor.
According to Sen. Hontiveros, the Supreme Court recognizes self-incrimination if there is a question raised. Following the absence of Mayor Alice Guo at the hearing, the Senate Panel cited the suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor in contempt. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, an arrest warrant will be sought against the Mayor.
Sen. Hontiveros expressed that the Senate Panel will write a letter to the Senate President. Once the Senate President will approve the letter, the issuance of the arrest warrant will set into motion. Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero previously affirmed his readiness to sign the arrest warrant against Mayor Guo if requested.