Alice Guo’s Lawyer Affirms Her Return as Bamban’s Mayor
ALICE GUO – The legal counsel of former and dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo has confirmed that she is preparing to run for re-election in the 2025 elections.
In the 2025 elections, Alice Guo, former mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, intends to run for office again. Despite being dismissed in August of last year, Guo plans to submit her certificate of candidacy (COC), according to her lawyer, Stephen David. “She will run,” David told TV5, adding that the required paperwork is being prepared by their legal staff “Why don’t we let the people decide if they want her?” he said, emphasizing the significance of letting voters make the decision.
Guo was dismissed from office by the Ombudsman for significant abuse of discretion regarding the operation of a Philippine offshore gambling operator (POGO) hub in Tarlac, and she is currently being held on a number of charges.
The decision is subject to appeal and is not final, even though it carries a penalty of permanent exclusion from holding public office. Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson Rex Laudiangco confirmed that the commission would accept Guo’s COC, as it is their duty to do so.
However, he clarified that filing a COC does not guarantee candidacy. “For us to act on this, a petition for disqualification or cancellation of the COC must be filed,” Laudiangco explained. He noted that any registered voter could submit such a petition, possibly raising issues like her citizenship.
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Senator Loren Legarda voiced her opposition to Guo’s candidacy, urging Comelec to block her from running due to the cancellation of her birth certificate, which was found to be fraudulent. Legarda accused Guo of criminal associations and warned against allowing her to run for office again.
Laudiangco also mentioned that Comelec Chairman George Garcia is committed to resolving all petitions by October, with appeals being decided by November. This means Guo’s eligibility could still significantly impact the upcoming 2025 elections.