Comelec to continue Alice Guo motu proprio probe despite escape

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will continue its investigation against dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo despite her alleged departure from the country.

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia on Tuesday said the poll body is waiting for Guo to file her comment on the subpoena issued against her on August 13. 

“Tuloy-tuloy 'yung gagawin namin at hindi kami hihinto…Hindi pa naman natin masasabi at hindi pupuede pang ma-apply ang presumption of guilt when you flee...sapagkat sa panahon na ito hinihintay pa natin ang sampung araw kung saan sasagot ang respondent,” Garcia told reporters in a Zoom interview.

(We will continue with the preliminary investigation. At this point, we cannot comment nor apply the presumption of guilt when someone flees. We’re still waiting for her response to the subpoena within the 10-day period.)

“Matapos ang sampung araw tingnan natin, may abogado ba na lulutang? O siya mismo ba ay lulutang upang pabulaan ang mismong akusasyon laban sa kaniyang tinatawag na misrepresentation? At this point, premature. Officially received ang subpoena na inissue ng Law Department ng Comelec,” said Garcia.

(After 10 days, we shall see. Will a lawyer appear? Will she herself appear to deny the accusation of misrepresentation against her? At this point, it's premature. The subpoena issued by the Comelec Law Department was officially received.)

The Comelec earlier served a subpoena against Guo in relation to the material misrepresentation complaint filed against her. The dismissed mayor was given 10 days from Wednesday, August 14, to file her counter-affidavit.

“Ito kasi ay public interest case…Napaka-importante nito dahil magfa-file na naman ng candidacy. Gusto natin na malaman ng mga magfa-file na hindi nila pwedeng gawin yung misrepresentation kaya naman ito ay ating binibigyan ng sapat na atensyon,” Garcia added.

(This is a public interest case. It is very important because the filing of candidacy is approaching. We want to remind aspirants who will be filing that they should not commit misrepresentation so we’re putting attention to this case.)

Last week, the Office of the Ombudsman ordered Guo’s dismissal for grave misconduct. She  was dismissed from service with forfeiture of all her retirement benefits as well as perpetual disqualification from public office.

The Bureau of Immigration on Tuesday confirmed Guo is now in Indonesia, arriving there nearly a month after her departure from the Philippines.

According to the BI, Guo traveled to Malaysia from the Philippines on July 16, then arrived in Indonesia from Singapore on August 18.—RF, GMA Integrated News