A Pasig regional trial court judge has denied a Senate request asking that ex-Bamban mayor Alice Guo and 5 others be allowed to attend a Senate inquiry scheduled Tuesday morning.

In her letter to the Senate, RTC Branch 167 Presiding Judge Annielyn Medes-Cabelis said the request of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality cannot be granted because there is already a scheduled hearing at 8:30 a.m. “concerning the cases to which these accused are charged with.”

Aside from Guo, the other accused included in the Senate request are Jamielyn Santos Cruz, Thelma Barroso Laranan, Rita Sapnu Yturralde, Rowena Evangelista and Rachelle Joan Alonzo Carreon. 

READ: Letter of the Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 167 denying the request of the Senate for former Mayor Alice Guo and other accused to attend today’s inquiry because of a court hearing. @ABSCBNNews

(Courtesy: Office of Sen. Risa Hontiveros) pic.twitter.com/acKL6tL1Do

— Victoria Tulad ✨ (@victoriatulad) November 26, 2024

Meanwhile, the judge noted the court no longer has jurisdiction over two other accused - Juan Miguel Alas and Roderick Paul Bernardo Pujante - after charges against the 2 were dropped.

Guo, who was dismissed from office for grave misconduct and banned from reentering government service, is facing graft, qualified human trafficking, money laundering, and tax evasion charges related to her alleged involvement in illegal gambling hubs.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, committee chairwoman earlier said the November 26 hearing would reveal new information on the presence of Chinese spies in the Philippines through POGOs.