Former Mayor Alice Guo’s Lawyer Speaks on Upcoming Senate Hearing
Alice Guo’s lawyer, Atttorney Stephen David, expressed that the pending cases against the former Mayor may prevent her from telling all.
Following former Mayor Alice Guo’s arrest in Indonesia by the foreign authorities, she was turned over to the Philippine authorities and is now back in the country. Multiple charged have been filed against the former Mayor.
Guo served as the mayor of Bamban, Tarlac until the recent order of the Ombudsman to dismiss her from office. She is accused of involvement in the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming operations in her town and being a Chinese national.
On Friday, Guo was brought back to the Philippines on board a private hangar that landed in Pasay City. She went through medical examination and her blood pressure and oxygen levels were on normal levels.
Alice Guo is set to be detained in the custodial facility where former Senator Leila de Lima was housed for 7 years. The former Senator faced charges of drug trade involvement but the cases were all dismissed by the court after 7 years.
The Court permitted Guo to attend the Senate hearing on Monday. Senators Risa Hontiveros and Sherwin Gatchalian who lead the investigation on the illegal POGO operations in the country were among those who look forward to the appearance of the former Mayor in the Senate hearing.
However, based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Alice Guo’s lawyer, Atty. Stephen David, expressed that the pending cases against the former Mayor may prevent her from telling all at the Senate hearing. Speaking to Teleradyo Serbisyo, he also stressed that he is bound to tell his client about her constitution rights including her right against self-incrimination.
“She will tell all. Ang problema lang right now, ang daming kaso. So anything na sabihin niya may be used for or against her,” David said.
Alice Guo’s lawyer stressed that their dilemma now is about what she can say that will not incriminate her in the cases. Previously, the lawyer said that Alice Guo’s brother, Wesley, is also willing to surrender to the authorities.