SENATORS expressed outrage on Saturday over the possibility that dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo might seek reelection next year despite being stripped of her title and being charged with serious crimes, including human trafficking.
“It seems that Alice Guo has not stopped defrauding the people, even though she is in jail,” said Sen. Risa Hontiveros after learning that Guo, aka Guo Hua Ping, might seek reelection.
“If Guo Hua Ping (Alice Guo) fills out her certificate of candidacy (CoC) and falsely declares herself a Filipino citizen, she would be committing an act of material misrepresentation,” Hontiveros said in Filipino.
She said the CoC is a vital document executed under oath.
“If Guo Hua Ping persists in lying, perjury would add to the litany of crimes she was involved in,” Hontiveros said.
On Friday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced that it had canceled Guo’s Philippine passport after investigations showed that it was “fraudulently acquired.”
Based on the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) certification on August 24, the DFA said that Guo’s biometric data in the agency’s passport database matched those of “Guo Hua Ping,” a Chinese national. The cancellation took effect on September 30.
“The DFA is committed to upholding the security and integrity of issuing Philippine passports and assures the public that fraudulent application and acquisition of passports are referred to law enforcement agencies for investigation and prosecution,” the DFA said in a statement.
But Guo’s lawyer, Stephen David, confirmed that the dismissed mayor plans to file her CoC for the 2025 polls.
“She will run,” David said in a television interview, adding that their legal team is preparing the required documents. “Why don’t we let the people decide if they still want her?”
Three senators conceded that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is “constrained” to accept Guo’s CoC. Still, they reminded the poll body of its duty to stop foreigners pretending to be Filipinos from joining the country’s electoral process.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said Comelec must ensure that every candidate participating in the 2025 midterm elections meets the requirements for those seeking elective posts.
“The poll body should ensure that no voters will be fooled by candidates who lack qualifications,” Estrada said.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, a lawyer, agreed that Guo could still be allowed to run since her criminal cases, including the issue over her citizenship, were still pending in courts.
“However, Guo’s existing criminal cases can be used as political issues against her during the campaign,” Pimentel said.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said Guo’s plan to run for public office is another brazen attempt to undermine the country’s laws.
“I strongly urge the Comelec to immediately enforce legal measures to disqualify her from seeking public office,” Gatchalian said in a statement.
Sen. Joel Villanueva noted that the Comelec had already filed a case for material misrepresentation against Guo for running for public office in 2022.
“It would be ridiculous if she would still be allowed to run again,” he told reporters in a Viber message on Friday.
In the face of these remarks, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the poll body would follow the decision of the Ombudsman in the case of Guo, who has been prohibited from holding any public position.
“The Comelec will always implement and execute the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman. That is an act of respect to the office, and that is what is provided for under Republic Act 6770,” Garcia said.
He said the Ombudsman’s decision is immediately executory.
But Garcia said should Guo file her CoC, the Comelec would accept it and then cancel it.
“The Comelec will accept the CoC of Alice Guo; we will accept the CoC of anyone in a similar situation,” Garcia said.
He said there are three grounds for the cancellation of a CoC: the declaration as a nuisance candidate; the filing of a petition seeking to cancel the CoC due to age, citizenship and registration as a voter, among others; and a decision from the Ombudsman perpetually disqualifying the candidate.
Based on Comelec rules, Guo may file her CoC through a representative.
Guo is detained over various charges.
In August, Guo was dismissed from service by the Ombudsman for grave abuse of discretion over the operations of a Philippine offshore gaming operator or POGO hub in Tarlac.
Also on Saturday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said state prosecutors would go “all-out” in the prosecution of Guo in the qualified human trafficking case lodged against her following the revocation of her passport by the DFA.
The New Philippine Passport Act permits passport revocation if it is proven that the document was acquired through fraudulent means or issued erroneously.
The cancellation of Guo’s passport is a clear application of this law.
Remulla said this is a significant step toward uncovering the truth and seeking justice.
“This action by the DFA has paved the way for the pursuit of justice. The cancellation of Guo’s passport is not just symbolic; it signals the start of our determined effort to hold her accountable,” he said.
Remulla assured the public and the DFA that the DoJ would not leave any stone unturned in ensuring the successful prosecution of Guo.
“Rest assured, your efforts will not go to waste. We are fully prepared to take this case forward and ensure that justice is served,” Remulla vowed.
The DoJ also raised concerns over Guo’s potential to flee the country, given her previous international travels to Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia earlier this year.
In July, Guo was detained in Indonesia, raising alarm about her ability to evade legal proceedings in the Philippines.
The DoJ said this makes the passport revocation a critical measure in preventing further attempts to escape justice.
Remulla said the DoJ remains firm in its stance that these charges will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
He said as this high-profile case continues to unfold, it highlights the government’s commitment to combating human trafficking and upholding the integrity of legal documents such as passports.
The collaboration between the DoJ, DFA, NBI and other relevant agencies demonstrates a unified approach to addressing criminal activities and holding perpetrators accountable, said Remulla.
