MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is formally filing cases against dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo before a Tarlac court for alleged material misrepresentation in her 2022 election candidacy.
Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said they will proceed with the filing of cases after Guo’s camp opted not to file a motion for reconsideration (MR).
“Base sa record namin, ‘yung dating Mayor Alice Guo ay hindi nag-file ng MR kung kaya po hinahanda na ng aming law department ang information para i-file sa RTC diyan po sa Tarlac ang kasong misrepresentation, violation ng Omnibus Election Code,” Garcia said.
omelec previously issued a resolution adopting the recommendation of its law department to file information against Guo before an RTC for violating Section 74 of the OEC in relation to Section 262.
Garcia also said the Comelec will also file a motion with the Tarlac RTC to transfer of the venue for Guo’s trial for the safety of the witnesses against the dismissed mayor.
“Hindi po ito dahil wala tayong tiwala sa ating korte. Sobra po ang pagtitiwala ng Comelec sa ating hudikatura, sa mga huwes. Subalit siyempre po, tatandaan natin na nandoon tayo sa isang lugar na ‘yun mismong safety at security ng witnesses at mga lawyers natin ay atin din pong pinoprotektahan,” Garcia said.
Guo is facing charges for graft, qualified human trafficking, money laundering, and tax evasion for her alleged involvement in the Philippines Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in her town.
The Department of Foreign Affairs also canceled Guo’s Philippine passport as her biometrics match those of Chinese passport holder Guo Hua Ping in the files of the National Bureau of Investigation.
Guo, who was dismissed from service last August, previously expressed intention to run for the 2025 midterm elections but later announced she is no longer seeking re-election./PN
