Tarlac court orders arrest of Alice Guo in graft case

A Tarlac court has issued an arrest warrant for dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo in connection with a graft case. 

In the warrant issued by the Capas, Tarlac Regional Trial Court Branch 109, authorities were directed to arrest Alice Leal Guo, alias Guo Hua Ping.

The court set her bail at P90,000 each for violation of Section 3(e) and 3(h) of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The arrest order stemmed from the complaint filed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government against Guo and other local officials before the Office of the Ombudsman over her alleged links to the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Bamban.

With the warrant of arrest from the Tarlac court, Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero said the proper law enforcement agency will take custody of Guo.

"Sila muna kasi issued by a court yan eh. And if/when she posts bail, dun na siya dalhin sa atin," Escudero said in a text message.

(They should be first since this was issued by a court. And if/when she posts bail, that's when she is brought to us.)

Guo was revealed to have left the country in July.

Indonesian authorities arrested her early Wednesday morning.

She was turned over to Philippine officials on Thursday afternoon by Indonesian authorities in Jakarta. Guo is expected to arrive in the country on Thursday evening.

The former mayor is facing a human trafficking complaint in relation to the raided POGO hub in Bamban as well as a money laundering complaint before the Department of Justice.

A quo warranto petition has also been filed against her before a Manila court, as well as a petition to cancel her birth certificate before another Tarlac court. — with a report from Hana Bordey/VBL/RF, GMA Integrated News