Senators urge vigilance vs. more cases like Alice Guo in Eleksyon 2025

At least four senators on Wednesday called for vigilance against individuals who would seek elective positions amid issues with their candidacies, similar to the case of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo.

"May posibilidad pa rin 'yun. Trabaho nating lahat na maging mapagmatyag at tiyakin na hindi sana mangyari 'yun at kung mangyayari man agad mahuhuli," Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero said in a press conference.

(That's still a possibility. All of us must work to watch closely and ensure that this won't happen again, and, if it does, the culprit must be apprehended right away.)

The Senate president raised the need for this as he explained that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has a ministerial duty to accept certificates of candidacy, and that the poll body cannot arbitrarily reject the applications from any person who wants to run for elective posts.

As he believes that this ministerial duty of Comelec should not be changed, Escudero noted that disqualification cases can be filed against individuals who might have similar cases as Guo.

"Mayroon namang procedure para magpa-disqualify ng kandidato during the campaign period kung hindi nga ba siya qualified… Kung makalusot ka katulad ng ginawa natin kay Mayor Alice Guo, kung makalusot ka man, may proseso pa rin sa pamamagitan ng quo warranto para kuwestyunin ang iyong pagkakapanalo o pagkakaluklok sa puwesto," he added.

(There is a procedure to disqualify candidates during the campaign period if he or she is not qualified... Should such a candidate manage to slip past this scrutiny, there is also a process through a quo warranto petition to question the victory or assumption to office.)

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III made the same call to be vigilant as he also explained that there are remedies for cases like Guo's.

"Kilatisin lahat ng qualifications ng mga kandidato. Tapos kahit makalusot mayroon pa naman mga remedyo na puwedeng gawin. There is need to be vigilant, but no need to panic," Pimentel said.

(Let's scrutinize all of the candidates' qualifications. Should this fail, other remedies can be employed. There is need to be vigilant, but no need to panic.)

"As seen in the Alice Guo case. It is not worth it, as these unqualified persons stand to lose everything. Hence let's not be too worried about it. Although I think the Comelec has come up with some adjustments to minimize the possibility of foreigners running for public office," he added.

Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino likewise shares the view of his colleagues that there might be more cases of Guo in the 2025 polls.

"That's why the Comelec should be vigilant as well while their function is ministerial to accept COCs the general public and the intelligence community should assist," Tolentino said.

For Senator Grace Poe, the ongoing filing of COCs should be an opportunity to stop illegal and undesirable individuals from entering the electoral system.

"At the onset, Comelec should be able to screen stringently the aspirant's documents and qualifications, such as the most basic requirement whether he or she is a Filipino," Poe said.

"Concerned agencies should be vigilant and see to it that we don't have another Alice Guo in our midst," she added.

Guo is facing material representation case before the Commission on Elections.

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 a Tarlac court.

These cases have been filed against her after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) found that her fingerprints are identical with Chinese national Guo Hua Ping.

The search for truth on her identity was pursued as the Senate investigated her supposed involvement in an illegal POGO in Bamban, where she previously held the mayoral position. — VDV, GMA Integrated News