Suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo could  face jail and/or removal from office as she faces new legal challenges over her alleged links to illegal offshore gaming hubs.  

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said the Senate panel is seeking the filing of formal charges against Guo for her continuous refusal to appear before the Upper Chamber’s investigation into illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators. This is aside from the human trafficking complaints filed against Guo by the Department of Justice. 

Human trafficking complaint filed against Guo

“Iminungkahi na natin na mag-file ng formal case against her. Kausap ko ang senate secretary, magpa-file na sila ng formal case. Ito yung article 150, revised penal code yung disobedience to summons of congress. Pwede siyang makulong dito sa kasong ito,” Gatchalian said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview. 

He said the Senate investigation has shown that Guo is the “mastermind” behind the massive POGO hub in Bamban that was raided early this year.

OSG files quo warranto petition questioning Alice Guo's eligibility to be Bamban mayor

For his part, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said his office filed a quo warranto petition questioning Guo’s eligibility to hold public office because she is not a Filipino citizen.

“Ang ibig lang sabihin nyan [quo warranto] kumbaga demanda para alisin sa pwesto o i-declare na ineligible ang isa tao na unlawfully occupying a public position. Dun sa case ni Mayor Alice Guo, ang aming basehan ‘yung kanyang ineligibility dahil meron tayong ebidensya na pinapakita na siya ay hindi Filipino citizen,” Guevarra said in a separate TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.

“Meron tayong ebidensya na siya ay isang Chinese national so therefore ineligible. Hindi siya qualified na tumakbo at hindi qualified na maupo bilang municipal mayor ng Bamban."

Guo's citizenship and identity have been put into question after the National Bureau of Investigation said that she and Chinese national Guo Hua Ping, who entered the Philippines in January 2003, have the same fingerprints.

Fingerprints of Alice Guo, Guo Hua Ping match, Hontiveros says

The Solicitor General added Guo committed serious dishonesty, which is ground for forfeiture of her office as mayor.

Guevarra said the case, which was filed before a Manila court, will still continue despite Guo going into hiding. 

"Aandar 'yung kaso (kahit wala siya) halimbawa kung maglabas ng summon yung court para sagutin niya yung complaint pero hindi siya makita o hindi mai-serve yung summon sa kanya. Ang gagawin namin dyan ay ipa-publish namin yung summon sa kanya. Pag hindi pa siya sumipot, then the court may proceed accordingly," he said. 

"Hindi naman kailangan na personally siyang lumitaw sa court para lang magfile ng kanyang answer. Pwedeng gawin ng kanyang mga abogado."

The Solcitor General said if the quo warranto petition is granted, it will be as if Guo never filed a certificate of candidacy and the candidate with the second highest number of votes in the 2022 election will take over as mayor. 

"Pero kung siya mareremove nung second ground namin, kung siya may mareremove because of serious act of dishonesty ang papalit sa kanya yung Vice Mayor," he said. 

Deportation, jail time or plea deal: What happens next to 'Chinese' mayor Alice Guo?