MANILA — Suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo can still file her Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for the 2025 midterm elections if she decides to run again.

This, despite the various cases and accusations against her, so long as there is no final judgment yet finding her guilty, according to Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia.

“Ministerial po ang duty namin kaya po tatanggapin namin lahat ng Certificates of Candidacy,” Garcia said.

(Our duty is ministerial so we will accept all Certificates of Candidacy.)

The final judgment will come from the Supreme Court in the event that Guo is found guilty on any of her cases and will make an appeal.

If Comelec finds enough basis to file an election offense, however, it can prevent Guo from running.

“Sa amin kasi kapag nagkaroon ng desisyon ang Comelec en banc, ang desisyon ng en banc ay executory kahit na naka-appeal pa siya sa Korte Suprema,” Garcia explained.

(Once the Comelec en banc decides, that is already executory even if a person is appealing before the Supreme Court.)

The Comelec is currently investigating Guo for possible material misrepresentation on her 2022 COC.

“In two weeks time magagawa namin ‘yung fact-finding namin and hopefully ‘yung Law Department ng Comelec ay makapag-submit sa en banc ng kanilang recommendation,” Garcia said.

(We will finish our fact-finding in two weeks time and hopefully, our Law Department will submit its recommendation to the en banc.)

Comelec will file the election offense at a Regional Trial Court.

Guo previously said in an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN that she intends to run for reelection.

Her lawyer, Stephen David, said her future political plans are not clear. “Depends really kung ano unfolding [ng] events.”

(It depends on how the events will unfold.)