Pimentel: Eleksyon 2025 'best time' to prove Alice Guo is not Filipino

The 2025 midterm elections is the "best time" to question and prove that dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo is not a Filipino.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III said this after Guo's lawyer announced that the former mayor, who is suspected to be Chinese national Guo Hua Ping, will run to regain her post in Bamban in Eleksyon 2025.

"Kung sino ang interesado at may pruweba, who can prove that she is not a Filipino, this is, I think, the best time to raise it," Pimentel, a lawyer, said in a press conference.

(Whoever is interested and can prove that she is not a Filipino, I think this is the best time to raise it.)

"Kung nag-file na ng COC, may deklarasyon ka doon na I’m a Filipino citizen. Then ang theory nung kabila, whoever will challenge [her], she’s not Filipino. Therefore, denied due course to the certificate of candidacy," he added.

(If she files a COC, there is a declaration on the form which says that I am a Filipino Citizen. Whoever will challenge her, can question if she is really a Filipino. Therefore, denied due course to the certificate of candidacy.)

For Pimentel, the possible ruling on Guo's certificate of candidacy (COC) could be the "categorical" and "exact" decision on her citizenship.

"Ito na ‘yung categorical case which will now say if she is a Filipino or not. There must be one exact case na 'yun ang issue, yun ang ruling, citizenship ang ruling," he said.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) earlier said that it will accept Guo's COC should she file one for Eleksyon 2025, but it noted that she may be disqualified unless she secures a temporary restraining order (TRO). —RF, GMA Integrated News