Senate eyes perjury, disobedience raps vs. Alice Guo

The Senate legal department is already studying the possible filing of perjury and disobedience to summons cases against dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero said Wednesday.

"Nag-usap na kami [at] pinadala na namin sa Senate Legal at pag-aaralan nila kung sino ang gagawa ng affidavit kasi syempre hindi naman si Senator Win at si Senator Risa [Hontiveros] mismo 'yung may personal knowledge kaugnay nung pagsisinungaling o hindi pagsunod sa subpoena," Escudero told reporters in an interview.

(We've already discussed and sent it to the Senate Legal, and they will study it to determine who will execute the affidavit, because, of course, it's not Senator Win and Senator Risa Hontiveros themselves who have personal knowledge regarding the lying or non-compliance with the subpoena.)

Escudero made the remark after Senator Sherwin Gatchalian earlier in the day said that the Senate will pursue the filing of cases against Guo, who is also identified as Chinese national Guo Hua Ping.

According to Escudero, members of the Senate Office of Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) and other Senate employees should execute the complaint affidavit under the law.

The Senate president, who is also a lawyer, said they will make an announcement once the Senate legal department has established the legal issues they will raise.

"Para naman airtight 'yung kaso [at] hindi 'yung madi-dismiss. Wala na nga rito, madi-dismissan pa kami ng kaso, nakakahiya naman. Ayusin na namin nang tama," Escudero said.

(We need to make the case airtight so it can't be dismissed. It's embarrassing that Guo had already escaped then the case will also be dismissed. Let's make it proper this time.)

'Frustrating'

In July, Gatchalian suggested the Senate file a case against Guo for violating Article 150 of the Revised Penal Code or disobedience to summons issued by the national assembly.

The senator suggested this as Guo continued to evade the arrest order issued by the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality.

In the same interview, Escudero welcomed President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s statement that "heads will roll" on Guo's departure from the Philippines.

The Senate president said that Guo's escape was really "frustrating."

He then raised the need for a processing center for general aviation to avoid similar incidents in the future.

"Sinumang aalis gamit ang private plane, dadaan dun. May immigration, may Customs check at may record. Sasakay ng eroplano, aalis. Pag landing, dun muna bababa ang pasahero, dadaan sa Immigration, sa Customs, iinspection ang eroplano bago payagan pumarada sa hangar," Escudero said.

(Whoever is using a private plane, it will pass through there. It has immigration, customs checks, and a record. Upon landing, passengers will go there first and they will pass through Immigration and Customs, and the plane will be inspected before it's allowed to enter the hangar.)

"Mga tatlo and apat na beses ko nang bini-bring up 'yan mula pa noong congressman ako. Kasi nga mula’t-mula walang nangyari. Well, baka ngayon baka pakinggan. Tingnan natin because of this Guo incident, perhaps," he added.

(I've brought that up three to four times since I was a congressman, but nothing has ever happened. Maybe now they'll listen because of this Guo incident.)

Out of PH

Last Monday, Hontiveros disclosed that Guo has already left the Philippines and arrived in Malaysia last July 18. She then flew to Singapore to meet her parents, her brother and Ong.

On Tuesday, the BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval divulged that Guo is currently in Indonesia.

The Immigration Bureau is now backtracking Guo's movements to determine the persons behind her travel, Sandoval said.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has since warned Immigration personnel who may have had a hand in the “escape” of Guo to come out and tell the truth or “heads will roll.”

Remulla issued the remark as he ordered the NBI and BI to look into Guo’s departure.

Guo has been linked to an illegal POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac raided by authorities. In June, the Department of the Interior and Local Government filed graft charges against her in this regard.

Her identity and citizenship were also questioned during Senate hearings on the illegal POGOs.

Last week, the Office of the Ombudsman ordered her dismissal for grave misconduct.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue also filed a tax evasion complaint against Guo after she allegedly failed to settle P500,000 in taxes.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) meanwhile said it will continue its investigation against Guo despite her alleged departure from the country.

The Comelec earlier served a subpoena against Guo in relation to the material misrepresentation complaint filed against her. The dismissed mayor was given until August 14 to file her counter-affidavit. —VAL, GMA Integrated News