Deportation, jail time or plea deal: What happens next to 'Chinese' mayor Alice Guo? | ABS-CBN
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Deportation, jail time or plea deal: What happens next to 'Chinese' mayor Alice Guo?
Deportation, jail time or plea deal: What happens next to 'Chinese' mayor Alice Guo?
Jauhn Etienne Villaruel,
ABS-CBN News
Published Jun 28, 2024 11:42 AM PHT
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Updated Jun 28, 2024 05:32 PM PHT
Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo in a Senate hearing in Pasay City on May 22, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News
Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo in a Senate hearing in Pasay City on May 22, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA (UPDATED) — It's game over for controversial Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, as far as Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian is concerned.
MANILA (UPDATED) — It's game over for controversial Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, as far as Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian is concerned.
On Thursday, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) confirmed that Guo and Chinese national Guo Hua Ping, who entered the Philippines in 2003, are the same person, based on a fingerprint analysis.
On Thursday, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) confirmed that Guo and Chinese national Guo Hua Ping, who entered the Philippines in 2003, are the same person, based on a fingerprint analysis.
"Ngayon masasabi na talaga natin na one hundred and one percent na si Guo Hua Ping ay si Alice Guo," said Gatchalian on Friday.
"Ngayon masasabi na talaga natin na one hundred and one percent na si Guo Hua Ping ay si Alice Guo," said Gatchalian on Friday.
It was Gatchalian, in late March 2024, who first suspected and sought an investigation into the possible link of Guo to the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Tarlac's southernmost town.
It was Gatchalian, in late March 2024, who first suspected and sought an investigation into the possible link of Guo to the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Tarlac's southernmost town.
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But what happens next to the Bamban mayor, who is currently suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman pending an investigation into her alleged POGO ties?
But what happens next to the Bamban mayor, who is currently suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman pending an investigation into her alleged POGO ties?
Gatchalian floated three possible scenarios that could happen to Guo.
Gatchalian floated three possible scenarios that could happen to Guo.
According to the senator, Guo may not be deported immediately due to the mounting criminal cases filed, and set to be filed, against her.
According to the senator, Guo may not be deported immediately due to the mounting criminal cases filed, and set to be filed, against her.
QUO WARRANTO
First, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has to cancel her birth certificate to support the quo warranto case to be filed by the Office of the Solicitor General.
First, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has to cancel her birth certificate to support the quo warranto case to be filed by the Office of the Solicitor General.
The quo warranto case will effectively oust Guo as Bamban mayor.
The quo warranto case will effectively oust Guo as Bamban mayor.
Gatchalian said Guo will then have to face locally the human trafficking, money laundering, tax, and quo warranto cases against her before she can be deported.
Gatchalian said Guo will then have to face locally the human trafficking, money laundering, tax, and quo warranto cases against her before she can be deported.
"Itong mga kasong ito haharapin niya muna ito bago sya i-deport sa ibang bansa," Gatchalian said.
"Itong mga kasong ito haharapin niya muna ito bago sya i-deport sa ibang bansa," Gatchalian said.
'WARRANTLESS ARREST'
Meanwhile, former Sen. Leila de Lima, a former Justice Secretary, said the Bureau of Immigration (BI) can put Guo under warrantless arrest due to "serious" visa violations.
Meanwhile, former Sen. Leila de Lima, a former Justice Secretary, said the Bureau of Immigration (BI) can put Guo under warrantless arrest due to "serious" visa violations.
"[T]he immediate legal remedy against her is a warrantless arrest by the Bureau of Immigration for serious violations of her visa conditions, and detention at the immigration deportation facilities pending her trial for the multiple criminal offenses she has committed," De Lima said on X, formerly Twitter.
"[T]he immediate legal remedy against her is a warrantless arrest by the Bureau of Immigration for serious violations of her visa conditions, and detention at the immigration deportation facilities pending her trial for the multiple criminal offenses she has committed," De Lima said on X, formerly Twitter.
According to De Lima, the DOJ must act swiftly to detain Guo instead of waiting for the progress of her other criminal cases.
According to De Lima, the DOJ must act swiftly to detain Guo instead of waiting for the progress of her other criminal cases.
"The DOJ should just treat this, initially, as a simple immigration case, where a legal warrantless arrest on Guo can be enforced... instead of still waiting for the filing of criminal cases against her with the courts," De Lima explained.
"The DOJ should just treat this, initially, as a simple immigration case, where a legal warrantless arrest on Guo can be enforced... instead of still waiting for the filing of criminal cases against her with the courts," De Lima explained.
STATE WITNESS?
Gatchalian also floated the possibility of Guo serving as a state witness in exchange for a lower penalty for her alleged crimes.
Gatchalian also floated the possibility of Guo serving as a state witness in exchange for a lower penalty for her alleged crimes.
"Puwede yan. Hindi siya maabswuelto for sure, hindi makakawala, pero siguro puwedeng pababain yung sintensya niya at gawing mas mababa yung penalty. Pero pwede," Gatchalian said.
"Puwede yan. Hindi siya maabswuelto for sure, hindi makakawala, pero siguro puwedeng pababain yung sintensya niya at gawing mas mababa yung penalty. Pero pwede," Gatchalian said.
However, Gatchalian said it would be difficult to trust Guo as a state witness given her repeated "lying" during the Senate hearings.
However, Gatchalian said it would be difficult to trust Guo as a state witness given her repeated "lying" during the Senate hearings.
"Wala siyang konsensya. Kaya niya magsinungaling bawat oras, bawat segundo para manloko at magawa niya yung criminal activities niya," he said.
"Wala siyang konsensya. Kaya niya magsinungaling bawat oras, bawat segundo para manloko at magawa niya yung criminal activities niya," he said.
Now cornered, Gatchalian said Guo should come out and reveal who are the masterminds behind the massive POGO operation in Bamban, which is said to be linked to another illegal POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga.
Now cornered, Gatchalian said Guo should come out and reveal who are the masterminds behind the massive POGO operation in Bamban, which is said to be linked to another illegal POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga.
"Dapat sabihin niya na lang lahat lahat ng nalalaman nya sa POGO hub dahil yung mga mastermind nakawala pa rin eh," he said.
"Dapat sabihin niya na lang lahat lahat ng nalalaman nya sa POGO hub dahil yung mga mastermind nakawala pa rin eh," he said.
Guo must face the Senate panel again during its next hearing, happening in the next 2 weeks, after Sen. Risa Hontiveros issued a subpoena against her.
Guo must face the Senate panel again during its next hearing, happening in the next 2 weeks, after Sen. Risa Hontiveros issued a subpoena against her.
Guo has insisted that she is a Filipino. She denied that she is a Chinese spy or that she had alleged links to illegal POGOs.
Guo has insisted that she is a Filipino. She denied that she is a Chinese spy or that she had alleged links to illegal POGOs.
Guo's lawyer Stephen David said "it’s too early to comment on the issue" because they have yet to examine the documents and witnesses.
Guo's lawyer Stephen David said "it’s too early to comment on the issue" because they have yet to examine the documents and witnesses.
"We can only do this in the proper forum. Anyway, expected na naman na these documents will be used in the Legal Arena. Then, that is were we can comment on this issue," he said in a statement.
"We can only do this in the proper forum. Anyway, expected na naman na these documents will be used in the Legal Arena. Then, that is were we can comment on this issue," he said in a statement.
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