ONLY the lawyer of Suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo attended the first day of the preliminary investigation (PI) at the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding the human trafficking complaint filed against her.
During the preliminary investigation, the suspended mayor was given 15 days to submit her counter-affidavit.
According to DOJ Usec. Nicholas Felix Ty, if Guo will file her counter-affidavit at the next hearing on July 22, she must show up and personally file her affidavit, insisting that she needs to take an oath for her statements.
“If she wants to file a counter-affidavit, then she needs to show up here. She needs to appear because if she doesn’t show up, her counter-affidavit will not be accepted,” said Usec. Nicholas Ty, DOJ.
The 13 other respondents were also a no-show at the preliminary investigation.
They were also given 15 days to file their counter-affidavits.
Meanwhile, the DOJ warned other individuals who attended the Senate Hearing investigation to come to the agency and submit responses if they do not want to be charged.
“To those respondents who claimed they were merely involved, I am calling on you to appear here. You need to respond because if you do not, you may face charges,” said Ty.
“The proper venue to submit your defense is not in the Senate, but here at the Department of Justice,” he added.
“They shall file their response here at the DOJ. At the same time, we are calling on them to assist in the case. If possible, they should file their own complaints if their identity was falsified or assist in the government’s investigation against the operators of this illegal POGO,” he also added.
Human trafficking complaint filed against Mayor Guo deemed weak by her lawyer
Meanwhile, in a media interview, Atty. Alex Avisado Jr., the lawyer representing Alice Guo, asserted that the human trafficking complaint against his client is weak due to a lack of solid evidence from the complainants.
“The burden of evidence required is very high. To indict Mayor Alice Guo there must be reasonable certainty of conviction. So, the crime of human trafficking—if you recruit, transport, or transfer persons for domestic employment but your true purpose is prostitution, sexual exploitation, slavery, or forced labor—you need to look at the evidence against Mayor Alice Guo: papers, electricity bills, letters of no objection, articles of incorporation. These documents are not enough to prove the crime of human trafficking. There must be overt act so itong kasong ito na finile against her mahina, with all due respect, So, this case filed against her is weak, with all due respect. In fact, when you read the complaint, the CIDG and PAOCC admit that there is no direct evidence of human trafficking against Mayor Alice Guo,” said Atty. Alex Avisaddo Jr., Legal Counsel ni Mayor Alice Guo.
OSG petitions for the cancellation of Mayor Alice Guo’s birth certificate
Meanwhile, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) announced that they already filed a petition to cancel Mayor Alice Guo’s birth certificate due to her failure to comply with legal requirements for late registration.
According to the OSG, they will follow this with a petition for quo warranto, which will pave the way for her removal from office.
“Today, the OSG filed a petition for the cancellation of the certificate of live birth of Alice Leal Guo on the grounds, among others, of failure to comply with the legal requirements for late registration. This will lay the groundwork for the subsequent filing of a petition for quo warranto,” according to OSG.
