Senate panel asks Tarlac court to allow Alice Guo to attend POGO probe

The Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality has requested Capas, Tarlac Regional Trial Court to allow dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo to attend the continuation of its investigation into her alleged involvement in illegal POGO operations.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the panel, made the request in a letter sent to Capas, Tarlac RTC Branch 109 Presiding Judge Sarah Vedaña-Delos Santos, after the court issued a commitment order for Guo, who did not post bail, to be detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame.

In the letter, Hontiveros noted that Guo was cited in contempt for her repeated absence in the legislative investigation, prompting the issuance of an order of arrest from the Senate.

"By the virtue of the Arrest Order...the committee would like to request to allow Ms. ALICE GUO AKA [GUO] HUA PING to appear before the Committee in the Public Hearing scheduled on Monday, September 9,2024..." the letter read.

In a statement, Hontiveros also said she wrote the PNP Custodial Center to have Guo appear at the hearing scheduled on Monday, September 9.

Hontiveros reiterated that Guo should have been turned over to the Senate after being processed by the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police upon her arrival in the Philippines from Indonesia. The lawmaker also insisted that the Sandiganbayan should handle the graft and corruption charges against high-ranking officials like Guo.

"Did the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) file a deliberately watered-down case to wrest custody of the fugitive? Bakit? Napaka-iregular ng mga nangyari (Why? The developments are very irregular). We will get to the bottom of who is orchestrating all this circus and wild goose chase," Hontiveros said.

Despite raising her arguments, Hontiveros said they are respecting the Judiciary and she expressed hope that the court will grant the Senate's request.

Guo was brought to Capas RTC in compliance with the warrant of arrest that was issued against her on Thursday.

The dismissed mayor left Camp Crame at 9:40 a.m. and arrived at Tarlac court past 11 a.m. She left the court past 12 noon to return to the PNP Custodial Center.

Guo, who is facing human trafficking and money laundering complaints, was nabbed by Indonesian authorities in Tangerang City early Wednesday morning. She arrived in the Philippines early Friday morning. —KBK, GMA Integrated News