Lawyer: Pending cases may keep Alice Guo from telling all at Senate hearing

MANILA — Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo has no choice but to attend the Senate hearing into illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, her lawyer said, but added that she might not testify as freely as senators might like because of the cases she is already facing.

Speaking to Teleradyo Serbisyo, Guo lawyer Stephen David said he has advised his client to tell the truth, but said that he is also bound to inform her about her constitutional 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. Kasi madaming kaso. May money laundering, may human trafficking, may Ombudsman," he sais.

(She will tell all, but the problem is she is facing many cases. So anything she says can be used for or against her. There are many cases. There's money laundering, there's human trafficking, there are cases at the Ombudsman)

READ: Ombudsman orders dismissal of Bamban Mayor Alice Guo

"Ano ang puwede niyang sabihin as a resource person... na hindi siya mai-incriminate sa kanyang sarili sa mga criminal cases. 'Yan ang dilemma ngayon," he added.

(What can she say that will not incriminate her in the criminal cases. That is our dilemma now.)

Guo, who was brought back to the Philippines after being arrested by Indonesian police in Tangerang City outside Jakarta, is facing a graft case at a Capas, Tarlac court.

She also faces multiple counts of money laundering as well as trafficking complaints pending at the Department of Justice. 

READ: Alice Guo back in Crame after facing Tarlac court

Guo cited the pending complaints against her as among the reasons for begging off from attending the Senate hearings, which earned her a contempt citation.

It was found in August that she had left the country in July despite assurances from David that she was still in the country.

"Ano ine-expect mo? Na tulungan sila ng isang nasasakdal?" David added.

(What do they expect? That the accused will help them?)

LAWYER SAYS SENATE SHOULD WRAP UP PROBE 

David stressed that criminal proceedings take precedence over legislative inqiuries and said it might be better for the Senate to wrap up its probe into illegal POGOs.

"Usually, sa experience natin, tapusin muna nila yung kanilang Senate inquiries, Senate investigation in aid of legislation at saka sila gagawa ng report at saka sila magfa-file ng case kung ano man yung findings nila," he said.

(From experience, senators usually conclude their hearings and file the committee report before filing cases, depending on their findings)

Congress has the power to hold inquiries as part of its oversight function and also to discuss proposed amendments to existing laws.

David added that legislators who feel that Guo is lying in her testimony, they should provide evidence or present resource persons who will prove the controversial mayor wrong.

"Pero hindi ko sasabihin sa mukha mo na nagsisinungaling ka, ihaharap ko ang mga ebidensya ko o kaya huhulihin kita sa salita mo mismo na nagsisinungaling ka," he said.

(If it were me, I would not tell you that you are lying. I will present evidence or will highlight contradictions in your statements)

Sens. Risa Hontiveros and Sherwin Gatchalian, who have been active in the POGO inquiries, have done that.

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