FILE PHOTO: Bamban, Tarlac City Mayor Alice Guo speaks during the resumption of the Senate probe into a POGO hub in Tarlac province on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Mayor Alice Guo is facing a human trafficking complaint, but her lawyer branded the case “weak” during a preliminary investigation with government prosecutors.
“Tingnan nyo ang ebidensya against Mayor Alice Guo, papel, bill ng kuryente, letter of no objection, articles of incorporation, itong mga dokumento na ito hindi ito enough to commit the crime of human trafficking,” Avisado, who appeared on behalf of Guo during the preliminary probe, told reporters Friday.
(Look at the evidence against Mayor Alice Guo: paper, electric bill, letter of no objection, and articles of incorporation. These documents are not enough to commit the crime of human trafficking.)
“There must be overt act. So, itong kaso na ito na finile against her, mahina. With all due respect, mahina,” he said.
(There must be an overt act. So, this case filed against her is weak. With all due respect, it’s weak.)
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The Supreme Court, in the case of Arroyo vs. People, defined the overt act as “some physical activity or deed, including the intention to commit a particular crime, more than a mere planning or preparation, which if carried out…without being frustrated by external obstacles…will logically and necessarily ripen into a concrete offense.”
“Medyo pilit ho talaga. In fact, ‘pag binasa ninyo ‘yung complaint, aminado ang CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) at ang PAOCC (Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission) that there is no direct evidence of human trafficking against Mayor Alice Guo,” he said.
(It really seems forced. 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.)
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Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty said that in the next preliminary investigation, the respondents are required to submit their counter-affidavits in response to the criminal complaint filed against them.
“Binigyan sila ng prosecution panel ng 15 days upang i-file ang kanilang counter-affidavit (The panel of prosecution gave the respondents 15 days to file their counter-affidavit),” Ty told reporters.
He said the respondents, including Guo should personally appear and affirm their affidavits before the panel of prosecutors.