A Filipino court convicted Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, she will have to serve her sentence in the country before being deported, according to Senator Risa Hontiveros. During a virtual press conference, Hontiveros stated that Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty assured her that Guo would have to complete her sentence in the Philippines if found guilty of the crimes filed against her by the government.
Hontiveros emphasized that ejecting Guo from the country would not exempt her from facing the consequences of breaking the country’s laws if she is found guilty by local courts. Guo is currently facing the non-bailable offense of qualified human trafficking, which was filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) recently.
In response to the human trafficking complaint, Guo denied any involvement with Philippine offshore gaming operators and claimed that connections to companies are not enough grounds for labeling someone a conspirator. The Office of the Solicitor General is considering filing a quo warranto case against Guo to remove her from office.
Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra mentioned that new findings by the National Bureau of Investigation, which show Guo’s fingerprints matching those of a Chinese national known as “Guo Hua Ping,” could expedite the filing of the quo warranto case. Hontiveros stated that the matching fingerprints are the strongest evidence yet to justify Guo’s removal from office.
Overall, Hontiveros and government officials are pursuing legal actions against Guo for her alleged involvement in criminal activities and are determined to ensure that she faces the consequences in the Philippines before any potential deportation.
