Sen. Gatchalian Speaks on Senate Panel’s Decision over Mayor Alice Guo Issue
SENATE PANEL – Senator Sherwin Gatchalian confirmed that the panel seeks the filing of formal charges against suspended Mayor Alice Guo.
Following her absence in the Senate inquiries set last June 26 and July 10, the committee handling the case cited suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo for contempt. The Senate issued an arrest order against Guo.
However, there was negative presence of Mayor Guo in all her registered addresses when the Senate’s Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms located her. The authorities also visited her farm and her garments factories but they were not able to locate the Mayor.
Previously, the camp of Mayor Alice Guo claimed that she is worried about her security. Senate President Chiz Escudero assured the Mayor of her safety during Senate detention if she will be arrested by the authorities. However, she did not surface.
Escudero expressed understanding on the part of Guo who want to understood but declined to grant any request from the Mayor as long as she does not surface. He also told Guo that she does not have to tell the senators about their work.
The statement of the Senate President came after Mayor Guo released a statement saying that the senators must focus into critical issues in the country like food shortage, poverty, and national security. She stand firm in denying all the allegations against her including her alleged involvement to the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming operations in her town.
The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has filed a quo warranto petition against Mayor Alice Guo. It will challenge her mayoralty in Bamban, Tarlac. There are questions on the nationality of the Mayor after her fingerprints matched with the fingerprints of Chinese national Guo Hua Ping.
Aside from the quo warranto petition, based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the Senate Panel is also eyeing the filing of formal charges against suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo. The decision came after she refused to attend the July 29 Senate hearing. Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque who was present at the Senate hearing is also facing accusations of alleged involvement on POGOs.
Based on the report, on the filing of the formal charges against Mayor Alice Guo, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said that he has already talked to the secretary and the Senate panel is set to file a case citing article 150 of the Revised Penal Code which is disobedience to summons of congress.
“Pwede siyang makulong dito sa kasong ito,” the Senator said on TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.