Alice Guo —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
MANILA, Philippines — Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo denied that she is Guo Hua Ping or her alleged true identity, her legal counsel said on Wednesday.
Guo’s alleged real identity was bared by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday, citing the Guo family’s application for a Special Investors Resident Visa (SIRV) which indicated that Guo Hua Ping is Alice’s real name.
The document also revealed that Guo entered the Philippines on January 12, 2003, when she was already 13 years old.
Guo’s legal counsel, Atty. Stephen David, however, said the mayor categorically denies the claim.
“Ang statement ni mayor is she is Filipino, she is issued a Philippine passport, marami siyang real estate properties na hindi mo magagawa kung ikaw ay isang foreigner,” said David in an interview over Radyo 630.
(The mayor states that she is Filipino, she was issued a Philippine passport, and she has many real estate properties that you cannot acquire if you are a foreigner.)
“And categorically, sinasabi niyang wala siyang kinalaman niyan sa Guo Hua Ping,” he added.
(And categorically, she says she has nothing to do with Guo Hua Ping.)
According to David, Chinese citizens are not allowed to hold dual citizenship, arguing that Guo is a Philippine passport holder, which has been renewed several times.
David also pointed out that Guo has already traveled to China using the same Philippine passport several times.
“Kung totoong meron siyang Chinese passport, hindi niya na kailangan kumuha ng Chinese visa. Kasi ‘yung kaniyang Chinese passport valid ‘yon sa China,” said David.
(If she really has a Chinese passport, she doesn’t need to get a Chinese visa. Because her Chinese passport is valid in China.)
Bring the case to court
David urged senators to file a case against Guo in court, criticizing attempts to turn the issue into a “trial by publicity.”
“‘Yung trial by publicity, ang hirap kasing kalabanin [niyan], kahit sa husgado malabas mo ang katotohanan parang hindi na maniniwala ang tao kasi nga meron na silang prejudgment meron silang conviction dahil sa mga lumalabas sa public and social media,” said David.
(Trial by publicity is hard to fight, even if you get the truth out in court, it seems like people won’t believe it because one is already pre-judged based on what they see and hear in public and social media.)
Should a case be filed in court, David said he and Guo’s other lawyers will be able to formally assess the accusations and evidence against her.
“Kung ano man ‘tong pinapalabas nila na Guo Hua Ping, harapin natin sa husgado ‘yan. Ako, I’m very confident na mare-rebut natin ‘yang allegations na ‘yan,” he said.
(We will face this Guo Hua Ping issue in court. I’m very confident that we can refute those allegations.)