DOJ: Case buildup against Alice Guo to continue

Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo in a Senate hearing in Pasay City on May 22, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Mayor Alice Guo

Jeffrey Hernaez

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://news-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com/api/upload-raw/20240803090836/fa4758295c6ac7d58340c8254a9afe8208969a9b1b83c2c7a695f64d28f1a027.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii" alt="Suspended Mayor Alice Guo of Bamban, Tarlac in a Senate hearing in Pasay City on May 22, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News"/>Suspended Mayor Alice Guo of Bamban, Tarlac in a Senate hearing in Pasay City on May 22, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</div>The Department of Justice (DOJ) will continue its investigation into the human trafficking complaint against suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo despite the mayor&#x27;s camp stating they will only address the matter in court. According to Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez, whether or not Guo&#x27;s camp submits a counter-affidavit, the case can still be filed in court. &quot;Malamang sa hindi isasampa iyan, kasi wala man lang pagkakataon na, pati nga pag-deny di ba, mag-asawa nga kung may suspetsa yung asawa mo, kailangang humindi ka kahit na ano, eh kapag hindi ka umiimik, delikado na na, you are gulty as charged,&quot; he said.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/2/alice-guo-rules-out-attending-future-senate-hearings-2048" id="isPasted">Alice Guo rules out attending future Senate hearings </a></div>The investigating body will examine whether the complaint has substance.&quot;Isipin natin na lahat ng mga kasong isinasampa ngayon ay subjected to case buildup, na under sa case buildup rule ng DOJ, so ibig sabihin, sa level na iyan, nakita na ng assisting prosecutor na may sustansya…. Diyan sa level na iyan, that&#x27;s their risk actually, na wala silang pagkakataon, they forfeited their right to present their evidence. In other words, its just like waiver of the right to due process, iyun ang effect na hindi sila magsasampa ng counter-affidavit,&quot; said Vasquez.Guo&#x27;s camp called the misrepresentation complaint premature after it was discovered that Guo&#x27;s fingerprint matches that of Chinese national Guo Hua Ping.&quot;Very much premature iyan... Dapat ang korte ang magde-declare kung siya talaga eh &#x27;yung iisang tao na yun. Hindi yung opinyon ng kung sino sino lang,&quot;  said Guo&#x27;s lawyer, Atty. Stephen David.There is also an issue regarding the validity of Guo&#x27;s birth certificate.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/2/comelec-to-decide-on-panel-s-recommended-raps-vs-alice-guo-by-next-week-1556" id="isPasted">Comelec to decide on panel&#x27;s recommended raps vs Alice Guo by next week</a></div>However, the Comelec insisted they do not need to wait for the resolution of Guo&#x27;s birth certificate issue before starting the investigation. &quot;Hindi po nababatay sa cancellation ng birth certificate ang pag-iimbestiga ng aming law department. Kasi ang malinaw dito, mayroong  nakitang tao na nagngangalang Guo Huang Ping. Malinaw po ito doon sa alien certificate of registration, malinaw din po mula doon sa mga dokumentong nabanggit ko na ang kaparehong tao na iyan na nagsasabing alien siya, chinese citizen siya ay Filipno citizen nagke-claim na Alice Leal Guo,” said Comelec spokesperson Atty. John Rex Laudiangco. “So ito po ay malinaw na material misrepresentation dahil ang COC po, unang unang allegation diyan na isusumpa po ay ‘I am a Filipino Citizen’ at siya ay qualified sa posisyon na kanyang tinatakbuhan,&quot; Laudiangco added.Anyone found guilty of misrepresentation faces one to six years in prison, loss of voting rights, and perpetual disqualification from running for any government position, the Comelec spokesperson said.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) will continue its investigation into the human trafficking complaint against suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo despite the mayor's camp stating they will only address the matter in court.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) will continue its investigation into the human trafficking complaint against suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo despite the mayor's camp stating they will only address the matter in court.