Alice Guo asks DOJ to dismiss perjury, falsification complaint

Former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo on Tuesday asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to dismiss the perjury and falsification complaint against her in relation to the notarized counter-affidavit that she previously filed for another complaint.

In an ambush interview following the preliminary investigation hearing, lawyer Stephen David said they argued that Guo should not be charged as she had no participation in the notarization.

“Unang-una, wala naman siya dito, eh. Papaano ‘yung— ano ‘yung participation niya doon sa notarization na iyon,” David said.

(First of all, she was not here. So, what would be her participation in the notarization?)

Guo’s secretary, Cath Salazar, previously told senators that Guo allegedly instructed her to seek assistance in the notarization of the document.

David, however, said this does not mean that Guo is liable.

“Hindi naman porke inutusan mo eh ‘yun na ‘yung kaso mo doon, diba? Kasi ang kailangan diyan, ‘yung act talaga na nag falsify ka ng notarization mo,” David said.

(Just because you ordered it doesn’t mean that’s already the charge against you. What they need to prove is that she falsified the notarization.)

LOOK: Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo leaves the DOJ after the preliminary probe on her perjury, falsification complaint @gmanews pic.twitter.com/A4Tw1raDSz

— Joahna Lei Casilao (@joahnacasilao) November 5, 2024

Guo's counter-affidavit for her qualified trafficking complaint was filed at the DOJ days after the complaint was submitted for resolution on August 6.

It was notarized on August 14 in San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan, when Guo was already out of the country. Guo previously testified that she signed her counter-affidavit before she left the country in the first week of July.

Atty. Elmer Galicia, the lawyer who notarized her counter affidavit, had also admitted that Guo did not personally swear before him, which was required by law.

Due to this, the National Bureau of Investigation filed a complaint against her for perjury, use of a falsified document, and falsification by a notary public before the DOJ.

Meanwhile, Galicia and others are facing a complaint for falsification by a notary public, perjury, and obstruction of justice.

Guo, who is also believed to be Chinese national Guo Hua Ping, is facing a qualified human trafficking case before a Pasig court as well as a graft case before a Valenzuela court.

A quo warranto petition was also filed against Guo with a Manila court as well as a petition to cancel her birth certificate before a Tarlac court.

She is also facing a tax evasion complaint as well as 87 counts of money laundering before the Justice Department. —VBL, GMA Integrated News