Valenzuela Court allows Alice Guo to attend Senate probe on POGOs

A Valenzuela court has allowed dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo to attend the continuation of the Senate investigation into illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) scheduled on September 17.

This, after Senator Risa Hontiveros wrote the Valenzuela City Regional Trial Court last week requesting Guo's physical appearance at the Senate investigation.

Hontiveros leads the investigation into illegal POGOs as the chairperson of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality.

"Acting on the Letter Request...accused Alice Guo a.k.a Guo Hua Ping is hereby allowed to attend the joint public hearing...on September 17,2024 at 9:00 o'clock in the morning," the order signed by Valenzuela City RTC Presiding Judge Elena Amigo-Amano read.

The court has directed the Philippine National Police Custodial Facility to bring Guo to the Senate and the PNP Headquarters Support Service to "provide a strict security protocol."

A written report from the PNP Headquarters Support Service was also required by the court.

Last week, the graft cases against Guo have been transferred from Capas, Tarlac RTC to Valenzuela City RTC in compliance with the provisions of Republic Act 10660 which stated that "the cases falling under the jurisdiction of the Regional Trial Court...shall be tried in a judicial region other than where the official holds office." — RSJ, GMA Integrated News