Bamban Comelec Speaks on Possible Candidacy of Former Mayor Alice Guo
COMELEC – The Commission on Election in Bamban said that they will accept the Certificate of Candidacy (CoC) of Alice Guo if she decides to run.
Currently, the main office and the different branches of the Commission on Election are busy with regards to the filing of candidacies of those who intend to run for public office next year. Both local and national elections are set to be held in May 2025.
Recently, countless people were surprised when Attorney Stephen David announced that former mayor Alice Guo will seek re-election in Bamban. She was dismissed from office amid the allegations linking her to the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming operations in her town.
Guo’s identity is also in question. Her fingerprints matched with the fingerprints of Guo Hua Ping, a Chinese national, which suggests that they are the same person.
According to Atty. Stephen David, Guo is a Filipina and there is still no decision that declares her as not a Filipino. He also stressed that the process in the petition to cancel her Birth Certificate is long. It is currently pending in a Court in Tarlac.
The lawyer of the former Mayor said that the result of the election will show if the people of Bamban really loves Guo or they no longer want her to be in service. The announcement of the mayoralty bid of Guo who is currently detained in Pasig City Jail was met with different reactions.
There are netizens who are disappointed that Guo will run for mayor again while there are those who are disappointed with the criteria for eligibility in running for public office. Recently, the Comelec in Bamban said that they will accept the CoC of Alice Guo if she decides to run for mayor.
Based on a report on GMA News, the Comelec in Bamban said that they still have no idea if Alice Guo will file her CoC but they are not surprised. The poll body stressed that while a person is not convicted, he/she can run for any position in the government.
“‘Di naman kami nasurprise kasi pwedeng pwede naman siyang tumakbo eh… kasi wala pang final decision ang court,” Bamban Comelec Officer Edmund Salvador said on a 24 Oras interview.
The Ombudsman previously ruled for the dismissal of Guo from office. Based on the report, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra admitted that Guo may still submit her CoC as the charges against her are still pending.
The former Bamban Mayor is currently detained in Pasig City Jail. Amid her alleged intent to run for the mayorality race, the Department of Foreign Affairs or DFA cancelled Guo’s passport.