Comelec OKs filing of complaint vs. Alice Guo for material misrepresentation

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc has approved the recommendation of its law department to file a motu proprio complaint against suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo for material misrepresentation.

But Comelec chairperson George Garcia said the embattled mayor will be given the chance to explain her side.

“Therefore, pinapasimulan po ang pag-conduct ng preliminary investigation patungkol sa kanya. So asahan ninyo po na gugulong na ang proseso at magkakaroon naman ng pagkakataon yung respondent na sumagot sa mga akusasyon, alegasyon laban sa kanya,” Garcia told reporters.

(Therefore, the preliminary investigation on her might start very soon. So expect the process will begin rolling and our respondent will be given the chance to answer the accusations and allegations against her.)

GMA News Online reached out to Guo’s camp regarding the matter but it has yet to reply as of posting time.

The complaint stemmed from the fact-finding investigation earlier conducted by the Comelec’s law department in relation to Guo’s mayoral candidacy which could possibly be a violation of Section 74 in relation to Section 262 of the Omnibus Election Code.

Section 74 of the Code provides that “unless a candidate has officially changed his name through a court approved proceeding, a certificate shall use in a certificate of candidacy the name by which he has been baptized, or if has not been baptized in any church or religion, the name registered in the office of the local civil registrar or any other name allowed under the provisions of existing law.”

Senators have questioned Guo’s identity and nationality, which it was later found out that her real name is Guo Hua Ping and could have been born in China.

Further, Garcia said that the Comelec’s law department could also issue a subpoena against Guo.

“Ang susunod na po diyan ay pwedeng mag-issue yung aming law department ng subpoena upang mai-serve sa respondent at kaagad na mapasagot siya sa mga akusasyon sa kanya,” said Garcia.

(The next step is our law department can issue a subpoena to our respondent so she can immediately answer the accusations against her.)

While Guo has the right not to answer the allegations against her, Garcia said that it would be better for the controversial public official to clear things up.

“Siyempre yung hindi pagsagot, hindi naman pupwedeng sa mahabang panahon na maaantala ang ginagawa ng Commission on Elections lalo pa na ito ay isang kasong criminal na kailangan namin asikasuhin,” said Garcia.

(She cannot avoid not answering the accusations against her for a long time. The Commission on Elections cannot afford to wait, especially that this is a criminal case.)

Guo has missed several Senate hearings due to exhaustion and trauma. Authorities, meanwhile, believe that she has not yet left the Philippines. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News