Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo present during the Quad Comm hearing into Illegal POGOs, illegal drugs, and alleged EJKs during the Duterte Administration in Quezon City on September 19, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo will be treated like any ordinary detainee once she gets transferred to the Pasig City Jail, authorities said.

Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) spokesman Jayrex Joseph Bustinera said the former mayor will join the general population of the Pasig City Jail female dormitory.

"Maliit lang po ito. Nasa 36 lang po ang ideal capacity ng kulungan natin, pero ang nakakulong ngayon nasa 135 so talagang over capacity po ito," Bustinera said in an interview on Teleradyo Serbisyo on Friday.

Court orders Guo’s transfer to Pasig jail 

He said Guo, who faced several arrest warrants due to her alleged involvement in illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) and other charges, will be detained in one of the four prison cells allotted for the general population of Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs).

"Itong selda pong ito ang laman ay nasa 40 plus, around 44 po. Mayroong 10 bedbunks na may tatlong level, triple decker na bedbunks... Malinis at well maintained naman. It is what it is. 'Yun lang naman po ang paglalagyan ng BJMP," said Bustinera.

Once Guo gets transferred, she will undergo processing before being escorted to her cell.

"Una po medical examination. Ichecheck po kung may signs of abuse or torture, protocol iyon. After noon pagpapalitin na siya ng damit... tapos iinterviewhin sya, mugshot, fingerprint... pagkatapos ihahatid na siya sa kanyang selda na indentified nga ngayon na pang general population," the BMJP official said.

Valenzuela court resets Alice Guo arraignment to Sept. 30 

"Lahat sama-sama na jan dahil limited ang cell space. Sa BJMP as a policy, wala po kaming VIP treatment, bawal yan... Makikita naman natin ang jail facility we are very transparent, it is what it is. Kung ano ang sitwasyon, yun na yon. Ihahalo po talaga sya, kasi wala naman kaming paglalagyan na ibang selda," he added.

Bustinera ensured Guo's safety within their jurisdiction.

"Mayroon naman kaming intelligence unit... at so far sa assessment ng security namin dito wala naming imminent threat," he said.

"Inaassure naman naming safe and secure siya, makakarating siya sa kanyang mga hearing at the same time mapoprotektahan ng kanyang Karapatan bilang bilanggo katulad ng ibang bilanggo din na ordinaryo."

The expected transfer, however, did not push through on Friday night. 

In a separate interview, Bustinera said the PNP has yet to complete the documentary requirements.

 "As of 10:27 ngayong gabi, nag coordinate po ang PNP sa BJMP sa amin ngayon dito na hindi matutuloy ang transfer ngayong gabi. According to PNP, hindi po nila na kumpleto ang documentary requirements na kailangan para sa transfer. Ganun din ang medical requirements," he said.

 The BJMP official said it is important that Guo passes medical examination before she is allowed to stay with the general population of PDLs.

 "Kailangan po kumpleto ang documents. Kailangan po dun yung medical x-ray nya, ECG. Kasi ngayon po nasabi na rin namin kanina may tuberculosis patient po kasi dyan na naka isolate. Kung hindi natin sya i-isolate, kailangan mya x-ray talaga siyang dala," he said.

 'So according to PNP, hindi lang talaga nakumpleto lahat ng requirements. And naka standby pa rin po ang BJMP this weekend and anytime kung kailan man po sasabihin nila na ililipat na nila."

 The Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 167 issued a commitment order against Guo for her non-bailable qualified trafficking case in connection with the operation of illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators or POGOs.

This adds to the long list of charges filed against the troubled former mayor, which also includes money laundering and misrepresentation.