MANILA – Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo is still free to run for re-election despite the numerous cases and allegations she is facing, her legal counsel, Atty. Stephen David, said.
In an interview with Teleradyo Serbisyo on Saturday, David stated that Guo has not been convicted and allegations that she is not a Filipino citizen have yet to be proven in court.
“Mahirap naman na i-disqualify siya dahil lang sa kanyang technicality. Paano kung siya talaga ang gusto ng tao ‘di ba? Bigyan naman natin ng pagkakataon yung mga tao na ipakita yung suporta at pagmamahal sa kanya,” David said.
“Sa ngayon, wala namang husgado na nagsasabing illegal siya o na hindi siya Pilipino,” added David, who said that Guo is likely to file her certificate of candidacy before the deadline on Tuesday.
Guo, whom the National Bureau of Investigation says has the same fingerprints as Chinese national Guo Hua Ping, is facing allegations that she was involved in illegal activities in the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator in Bamban.
Guo is also facing allegations that she is not a Filipino citizen and could be an asset of China’s Ministry of State Security or of a criminal syndicate, which she has repeatedly denied.
“Ano ba naman ang magiging ebidensya doon na hindi siya Pilipino? Sinasabi lang na fake yung birth certificate, patunayan mo ‘yun,” David said. “The allegations being raised at the congressional hearings needs to be proven in court.”
The Office of the Ombudsman ordered Guo dismissed from government service for grave misconduct in August./PN
