Senate Issues Arrest Order against Mayor Alice Guo for Contempt
ALICE GUO – Senate President Chiz Escudero said that the suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor may be allowed of gadgets use in case she will be detained.
One of the biggest issues tackled in the Senate now is the illegal operations of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country. One of the personalities allegedly involved in it is suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Guo.
Aside from her alleged involvement in the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming operations in her town, Guo is also facing questions about her identity. According to the National Bureau of Investigation or NBI, the fingerprints of Guo matched with the fingerprints of Guo Hua Ping, a Chinese national.
The inconsistencies in the testimonies and documents of Guo during the previous Senate hearing sparked more questions and allegations. She even went trending on social media.
Last July 10, Mayor Alice Guo did not attend the Senate hearing as she was allegedly “traumatized” by the treatment to her. Attorney Stephen David, the legal counsel of the suspended Mayor, also said that his client is drained “physically” and “emotionally” from the allegations against her.
The Senate committee cited Guo in contempt for not attending the hearing. Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero signed the arrest order against the suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor.
The Senate’s Office of the Sergeant-At-Arms was ordered to serve the arrest warrant within 24 hours. However, the authorities failed to locate Mayor Alice Guo to serve the arrest order. They visited all her registered addresses as well as her farm and garments factories but there was negative presence of the Mayor.
Mayor Alice Guo’s lawyer said that she is fearing for her safety. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero does not see any reason for the suspended Mayor to worry about her safety. If arrested, she will be detained in a facility near a Philippine National Police (PNP) detachment within the premises of the Senate.
Guo will be detained with her female relatives in a room with two bunk beds and a bathroom of its own. Based on the report, Senate Pres. Escudero has also directed the review of the Senate rules on detention as he sees no reason why the Mayor will be prohibited from gadget use in case of detention.
According to Escudero, it is not a case of drugs that a gadget use can pave the way for continued operation. Furthermore, the Senate President clarified that the detention is not a penalty or a punishment but just to make sure that she will attend the Senate hearing.