Senate summons Guo, but subpoena not received

The Senate has summoned suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo to a hearing this July 10, but a helper at her farm refused to accept the subpoena, saying he does not know the other persons named in the document.

- CECILLE SUERTE FELIPE

In a report on July 4, Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Roberto Ancan said they served the subpoena for Guo and her siblings at the farm in Barangay Virgen delos Remedios in Bamban, Tarlac, but only farm helper Jerry Baltazar Carpio was present.

Carpio reportedly said the mayor has not visited the farm for weeks and that he has no idea of her whereabouts.

The helper also claimed that he does not know Guo’s supposed siblings Sheila, Wesley and Jian, hence he refused to receive the subpoena.

The Senate committee on women, children and family relations subpoenaed Guo to appear at tomorrow’s hearing on allegations of human trafficking, fraud and cyber operations linked to a Philippine offshore gaming operator or POGO hub in the province.

“If she doesn’t honor the subpoena, the Senate is well within its rights to issue an arrest order. Had she attended the hearing on Wednesday, there would have been no more drama. Mayor Alice Guo, the truth will give you peace of mind,” said Sen. Risa Hontiveros, the committee chair.

Following this, the subpoena was sent to the David Jamilla Law Office, which represents Guo. The law office clarified though that they are only representing the mayor and that they have no connection with the other members of her family.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections is forming a fact-finding committee to look into the candidacy of Guo during the May 2022 elections.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said he directed the legal department to form the body to investigate Guo’s candidacy “in view of public interest in the controversy surrounding Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.”

Garcia said the committee should determine whether there was material misrepresentation in her certificate of candidacy that would warrant the filing of an election offense case.