Lawyer Stephen David and the rest of Alice Guo's legal team file a Motion for Reconsideration and Urgent Motion to Lift Preventive Suspension before the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City on Thursday, June 6, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — The lawyer of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo on Friday refuted allegations that he "lied" when he said the controversial official was still in the Philippines after details emerged that she has been out of the country for over a month now.

• Guo has left Philippines, says Hontiveros

On Aug. 19, Sen. Risa Hontiveros revealed that Guo had fled the country in July, which her lawyer Stephen David denied, citing his alleged conversation with Guo herself.

• Alice Guo's lawyer says dismissed mayor still in PH

However, Hontiveros' information was eventually confirmed by authorities and Guo's sister Shiela.

According to David, he did not lie to the public when he said the ex-mayor was still in the Philippines as he merely trusted her claim "in good faith."

"I vehemently deny that I made untruthful statements in the media regarding her whereabouts... I consistently say that I am fully relying on what my client has told me. In other words, I was merely echoing her declaration that she is still in the country," David said.

With that, I relied on our client's representations and disclosures in good faith, trusting in the accuracy and honesty of the information [she] provided," he added.

He also addressed the potential filing of a complaint against notary public Elmer Galicia, who notarized Guo's counter affidavit and claimed he saw her personally even when the mayor was already out of the country at that time. 

• Notary insists he saw Alice Guo on Aug. 14 amid reported escape

"We put our confidence on his integrity and we believed in the regularity in the notarization of the document. This bolster my belief that our client was still then in the country," David said.

The lawyer also said he has been consistently urging Guo to show up in the investigations.  

"Throughout the course of our representation, I have continuously explained and emphasized to Ms. Guo the importance of her personal participation in the legal process. I have consistently apprised her of her rights, and that without her active engagement, we will not be able to fully explore and exhaust all available legal remedies," he said.

• Anyare sa intel funds?: Senator confronts PNP, NBI, BI over Alice Guo escape

 The dismissed mayor is said to be hiding in Indonesia, according to the Bureau of Immigration. Her alleged sister Shiela and companion Cassandra Li Ong were arrested in the same country last week and have since been deported.

• Shiela Guo admits Alice is not actually her 'sister'

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