Alice Guo to skip Senate probe for 2nd time — lawyer

Suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo will skip for the second time the resumption of the Senate investigation into the raided POGO hub in her town, according to her lawyer Stephen David.

"[D]i siya maka-attend tomorrow sa Senate hearing. Traumatized siya sa Senate treatment sa kanya plus emotionally and physically drained siya sa dami ng accusations sa kanya," David told GMA News Online in a text message on Tuesday.

(She will not be able to attend tomorrow's Senate hearing. She is traumatized by the Senate's treatment towards her plus she is emotionally and physically drained due to the numerous accusations raised against her.)

Guo also sent a letter of explanation to Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday, saying her physical and mental condition "has not improved and even worsened."

The embattled mayor said she already sought professional help but medical professionals ``refused to issue a medical certificate" stating her condition "for fear that they may also experience the same humiliation and ridicule" that she is going through.

She then decried the "malicious accusations" thrown against her, saying she's been ridiculed, her dignity has been debased, and her personal life and identity have been questioned and mocked.

Apart from this, Guo mentioned the cases filed against her, saying she felt like she had already undergone a trial by publicity finding her guilty without due process.

"All these significant challenges had taken a toll on my mental and physical health making me unfit to endure a rigorous situation such as a [S]enate hearing. Not to mention, I have been constantly receiving death threats that I cannot simply ignore as I am afraid that these threats may endanger my life," Guo's letter read.

She reiterated that she has no "ill will or slightest intent to disrespect" the Senate committee and appealed for the senators to consider her situation.

Guo's lawyer already hinted on Monday that the embattled mayor will not attend the hearing anew after being "traumatized" during the Senate investigation.

This, despite the issuance of a subpoena against her and the warnings from Senators Hontiveros and Sherwin Gatchalian that she might be cited in contempt and arrested if she will not appear in the Senate hearings.

Earlier in the day, Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero committed to sign the warrant of arrest against Guo if there will be a formal motion from the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality.

The Senate committee, chaired by Hontiveros, is investigating Guo's supposed involvement in the illegal POGO hub that was raided in her own town.

Guo's citizenship was also questioned due to her inconsistent testimonies about her background and the supposed dubious documents regarding her Filipino citizenship.

The National Bureau of Investigation has found that Guo and Chinese passport holder Guo Hua Ping have the same fingerprints.

Guo, her parents and siblings were already subpoenaed by the Senate committee. However, the subpoena was just issued to the suspended mayor through her legal counsel.

The embattled mayor has not been seen in her farm in Bamban, Tarlac, according to the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms which issued the subpoena to Guo.

Guo's farm helper also said that he does not know her whereabouts.

Guo's citizenship is also being questioned due to her inconsistent testimonies about her background and the supposed dubious documents regarding her Filipino citizenship.

But Guo has denied involvement in illegal POGO activities and maintained that she is a Filipino citizen. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News