Bamban Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo appears before the Senate as Sen. Risa Hontiveros flagged Guo’s alleged ties to Chinese “criminals” during the continuation of the Senate probe into the mayor’s links to POGO hubs in the latter’s area on May 22, 2024. INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
MANILA, Philippines (Updated) — Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo will not attend the Senate panel on women’s July 10 hearing on the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos), according to her legal counsel Stephen David.
David said Guo was “traumatized” after facing scrutiny on her alleged ties to Zun Yuan Technology Inc., the raided Pogo in Bamban.
READ: Guo skipping Senate hearing; Hontiveros warns of arrest
“She could not attend; she was traumatized by the Senate’s treatment against her. Plus, she was emotionally and physically drained due to the accusations against her,” David said in Filipino in a text message to reporters.
“We intend to submit an excuse letter, and I hope they will consider it,” he added.
Also on Tuesday, Senator Risa Hontiveros released to the media a copy of Guo’s letter of explanation saying that her condition since the last hearing on June 26 “has not improved and even worsened.”
“As we know, during the last scheduled hearing on 26 June 2024, I have failed to appear before the Honorable Committee considering that I am not physically and mentally fit to do so,” the suspended mayor wrote.
“Unfortunately, since then, my condition has not improved and even worsened. Truth be told, I have already sought professional help but the medical professionals that I have consulted refused to issue a medical certificate stating my condition for fear that they may also experience the humiliation and ridicule that I am going through,” she added.
Citing her experience, Guo said the accusations and complaints filed against her, as well as the ridicule she received, took a toll on her mental and physical health “making her unfit to endure another rigorous situation such as a Senate hearing.”
“For a few months now, I have been the subject of malicious accusations, I have been ridiculed, my dignity has been debased, and my personal life and even my identity have been questioned and mocked,” the letter reads.
“In addition, several suits were filed against me to which I felt like I have already undergone a trial by publicity finding me guilty without due process […] Not to mention, I have been constantly receiving death threats that I cannot simply ignore as I am afraid that these threats may endanger my life,” it adds.
“In this line, I humbly express my most sincere apologies for my absence and for any inconvenience this may have caused the Honorable Cómmittee. Again, I would like to reiterate that I have no ill will or any slightest intent to disrespect this Honorable Committee. I am hoping that you can still consider my situation,” it further says.
Hontiveros then warned Guo that the Senate would issue an arrest order if the latter ignored the subpoena against her.
“If she doesn’t honor the subpoena, the Senate is well within its rights to issue an arrest order [against her]. She should just attend the hearing on Wednesday without any drama,” Hontiveros said.
When asked about Hontiveros’ warning, David said, “That (arrest order) is the risk she has to face.”
Earlier, the Senate issued a subpoena to Guo and her family, ordering them to attend its hearing on July 10.
However, a letter from the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms dated July 4 said that the subpoenas were not served, revealing that Guo did not visit their farm for several weeks, according to a farm helper.
Guo’s lawyers clarified this, saying they already received the subpoena against her.
Based on reports, the Office of the Ombudsman had ordered the suspension of Guo following complaints filed by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
This comes after the DILG’s seven-man task force reported “troubling findings of serious illegal acts which may have severe legal implications” related to Guo and her alleged connection to the illegal activities in the Pogo in Bamban.
Aside from this, the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission filed a qualified human trafficking case against Guo for her alleged connection to labor trafficking of around 500 foreign Pogo workers.
READ: DILG files graft charges vs Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo