Senate or Tarlac RTC? Alice Guo custody in question

A what seems like tug of war between the Senate and the Tarlac Regional Trial Court over the custody of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo is in the offing.

This was after the Tarlac RTC issued an arrest warrant against Guo, which would take precedence over the one issued by the Senate.

Guo, who arrived in the Philippine from Indonesia early Friday morning, was being brought to Tarlac as of posting time to face the RTC-issued warrant dated September 5. 

The warrant from the criminal cases filed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) against Guo for two violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act

A P90,000 bail is recommended for each of the cases by RTC Judge Sarah delos Santos. 

Guo’s lawyer, Atty. Stephen David, said they are not inclined to pay the bail since Guo would not be freed anyway because of the pending arrest warrant issued by the Senate after it cited her for contempt for repeatedly skipping hearings.

"Same result din kung mag-bail siya, detained pa din siya (even if she posts bail she will still be detained) by virtue of the Senate arrest warrant," said David. 

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, said it should be the Senate that should have custody over Guo. 

In a statement, she said while she respects the judiciary, it was the Senate which issued the first arrest warrant against Guo.

“Ang Senado ang nag-trigger ng manhunt. Senate warrant ang bitbit ng ating law enforcement sa Jakarta,” she said. 

(It was the Senate that triggered the manhunt. Philippine law enforcement authorities were carrying Senate warrant when they went to Jakarta.)

Hontiveros said Guo should have been turned over to the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms upon her arrival. 

Senate President Francis Escudero said if the court retains custody of Guo, the Senate might have to request court permission for her to attend the hearing. 

"If this happens, Sen Risa’s Committee MIGHT need to ask the court for permission to bring her to the senate to attend the hearing," Escudero said in a statement. 

A hearing by the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality is set on Monday. —KBK, GMA Integrated News