Alice Guo assured me she's 100% in PH, says lawyer

Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo is still in the Philippines, her lawyer Atty. Stephen David said Tuesday, citing the mayor herself, following reports that she has already left the country.

David said he was able to talk with Guo on Monday, August 19, and she told him that she is still in the country. The lawyer, however, admitted that he cannot confirm the information and has no idea where she is exactly. 

"Siyempre hindi ko mako-confirm 'yan. Siguro 'yung kanilang report, may basehan sila. Pero sa akin kasi, kausap ko kasi 'yung client ko, sabi niya nasa Pilipinas naman siya," David said in an Unang Balita interview. 

(Of course I can't confirm that. Maybe their report has basis. But for me, I talked with my client, and she told me she is in the Philippines.) 

"In-assure niya ako 100% na nasa Pilipinas siya. Kaya ako, 'yung sinasabi ni Senator Risa [Hontiveros], mahirap po namang… ayunan," he added

(She assured me 100% that she is still in the Philippines. For me, it’s hard to agree with what Senator Risa is saying.) 

It was Hontiveros who bared the information on Monday that Guo, who was also identified as Chinese national Guo Hua Ping, left the country on July 18 for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) also said that the dismissed mayor had left the country and had been to at least three countries in Southeast Asia, the latest being Indonesia.

Meanwhile, Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco, citing intelligence information, said that Guo slipped out of the country without passing through Philippine immigration authorities. 

In return, David challenged authorities to show video of Guo if she is really outside of the country. 

"Kung meron silang ebidensya na nandoon siya sa Malaysia o Singapore, kung saan man 'yan, malawak naman ang kamay ng ating batas. Meron naman sila sigurong mga coordination sa mga pulis doon. Kuhanan nila ng video o ano na nandoon talaga siya," he said. 

(If they have evidence that she is really in Malaysia or Singapore, or wherever, take a video or something that shows that she is actually there. They probably have coordination with the police there.)

Regardless, David said he believes that Guo will still show up "in due time" once she already feels safe. 

He also said that he believes in the integrity of Atty. Elmer Galicia, who supposedly notarized Guo's counter-affidavit when she personally visited him on August 14 in San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan. 

The counter-affidavit was in response to the qualified human trafficking complaint filed against Guo in connection with the raided Philippine Overseas Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in her locality, where over 800 foreign nationals were rescued.
 
"Kaya ako, hindi ako naniniwala na wala siya sa Pilipinas kasi nga bakit, isang abugado na may pangalan nananahimik ang buhay mo, bakit mo guguluhin para magpirma sa isang kasinungalingan, 'di ba? Ako I have full trust and confidence in the integrity of Atty. Galicia," David said. 

(I don't believe that she is not in the Philippines because a lawyer signed her counter-affidavit. I have full trust and confidence in the integrity of Atty. Galicia.) —KBK, GMA Integrated News