Senate panel orders issuance of arrest warrant vs Alice Guo

A Senate committee on Wednesday ordered the issuance of an arrest order against suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo after she skipped the resumption of the investigation on the raided POGO hub in her town. 

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada moved to issue the arrest order against Guo, which was approved by Senator Risa Hontiveros, the chairperson of the committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality.  

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian also moved to cite Guo in contempt along with her relatives who were issued subpoenas, particularly her father Jian Zhong Guo, suspected biological mother Wen Yi Lin, and siblings Seimen, Wesley, and Shiela.

Apart from the Guo family, Dennis Cunanan and Nancy Gamo were also cited in contempt.

"'Di magiging kumpleto ang ating mga hearing kung wala ang mga personalidad na ito," Gatchalian said. 

(Our inquiry will not be completed without these personalities.)

According to Hontiveros, the recommendation to cite them in contempt will be referred to the Senate President for his signature.

Meanwhile, the following were subpoenaed by the committee:

-Jaimielyn Cruz
-Roderick Paul Pujante
-Juan Miguel Alpas
-Katherin Cassandra Ong
-Alberto Rodulfo De La Serna
-Jonathan Mendoza
-Robelyn Baterna
-Michael Bryce Mascarenas
-Stephani Mascarenas
-Rodrigo Banda
-Jing Gu
-Xiang Tan
-Daniel Salcedo Jr.
-Chona Alejandre
-Duanren Wu

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Tuesday committed to sign the warrant of arrest against Guo if there will be a formal motion from the Senate committee.

In making the motion, Gatchalian said dismissing the subpoenas issued by the committee is a disrespect to the Senate as an institution and its processes to uncover the truth. 

Hontiveros said Guo has sent a letter to the committee saying she could not attend the hearing due to health and mental health concerns.

The letter, however, was not backed by a medical certificate, Hontiveros said.

"We find her claims in the letter void of credibility," Hontiveros said.

Senator Nancy Binay, who also made a manifestation to cite Guo in contempt, took a swipe at Guo's use of mental health issues in skipping the Senate investigation. 

"Ang sa akin lang, nakakahiya naman po sa mga tunay na may mental health condition...Seryosong usapin ang mental health at hindi po ito dapat ginagamit na dahilan para magsinungaling," Binay said.

(I feel sorry for anyone who experiences mental health problems. Mental health is a serious matter that should not be used as a justification to make lies.)

Sought for comment, Guo's lawyer Stephen David said they expected the issuance of an arrest order.

“Hindi naman kami na surprise kasi alam naman namin ang magiging implication kapag hindi ka nag honor ng subpoena ng Senate, Congress, o korte eh,” David said in a phone interview with the media.

(We were not surprised because we know the implications of what will happen if you do not honor the subpoena of the Senate, Congress, and the courts.)

He said he would follow up with Guo to find out if her condition had improved.

“Basta kaya ng ano niya eh. Nag-a-attend naman siya dati, eh, diba? Kaya lang pag kaya niya talaga. Actually, ine-encourage ko talaga siya mag attend,” David said.

(As long as her [condition] is okay. She attended before, right? As long as she can. Actually, I encouraged her to attend.)

When asked about Guo’s relatives, David said he had no knowledge about them.

In an interview on Dobol B TV on Monday, David said the Senate hearings have left the embattled mayor "traumatized."

David also said Guo has medical conditions and was given medications, but her doctors are afraid to issue a medical certificate because they might be called to testify before the Senate. —with Joahna Lei Casilao/KBK/VBL, GMA Integrated News