Update on Comelec Misrepresentation Complaint against Alice Guo amid Intent for Re-Election
COMELEC – The Commission on Election spoke on the misrepresentation complaint versus former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo.
Alice Guo is currently detained in Pasig City Jail. She shares the cell with six (6) inmates and most of them were facing drug-related charges. Amid her detention, there is a possibility that she will run for re-election in Bamban.
Attorney Stephen David, the lawyer of Alice Guo, confirmed that she is running for mayor in Bamban. He stressed that the petition of cancellation of Guo’s Birth Certificate and the ruling of the Ombudsman cannot stop it.
According to David, there is a long process in the cancellation of the Birth Certificate. The petition is pending before a Tarlac Court. On the order of the Ombudsman, the lawyer said that it is not final and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will be the one to decide.
The Comelec previously explained that it cannot reject the Certificate of Candidacy of Alice Guo if she decides to file her CoC. According to the poll body, they have the ministerial power and they cannot evaluate and reject a CoC right away.
The Comelec in Bamban also explained that the cases against Guo have yet to be decided on. According to the poll body, they will accept the CoC of Guo if she decides to run for a position in the government. It also said that they were not surprise on the announcement of the camp of Guo as she can really run for a position in the government.
Recently, the Comelec spoke on the material misrepresentation complaint against former Mayor Alice Guo. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the poll body said that it will release its final ruling before October 30.
Based on the report, Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia confirmed that they have already received the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman to perpetually disqualify Guo from holding public office. According to Garcia, the poll body will not only have a recommendation in the case of Guo but as well as in other cases where they received a decision from the Ombudsman.
Garcia emphasized that the decision of the poll body will never be dependent on the verdict of other courts. According to him, a candidate may be removed from a position based on the following grounds:
- has been declared a nuisance candidate
- facing a complaint of misrepresentation
- Ombudsman orders for perpetual disqualification
“Ang pangatlo ang pinaka-crucial… sinabi namin, kikilalanin ng Commision on Elections ang desisyon ng Office of the Ombudsman,” Garcia said.