Then Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo speaks during the resumption of the Senate probe into a POGO hub in Tarlac province on May 22, 2024. INQUIRER.net file photo / NOY MORCOSO
MANILA, Philippine — Three panels of the Senate have been tasked to delve deeper into the alleged “escape” of dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo from Philippine jurisdiction.
These committees are the chamber’s panels on justice, women, and public services.
In a short manifestation delivered during Wednesday’s plenary session, newly elected justice panel chairperson Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel brought up the matter.
According to justice panel head Pimentel, he has initiated the forming of a subcommittee tasked with hearing the particular subject matter, adding that he had designated Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros to head the said sub-panel.
“And I’d like to move, since I noticed that the referral is solely to the justice committee if we can make a secondary referral of her speech to the committee on women and children which is the committee that investigated all of these and led to this situation — the subject person of the hearing has allegedly escaped Philippine jurisdiction,” said Pimentel.
After making his motion, Pimentel explained that Hontiveros’ panel on women has been leading its inquiry on Guo, saying it is only just and right to name it as a “secondary referral,” — with justice being the primary.
At this point, Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino interjected, airing his own suggestion.
“The chair is correct, perhaps the negligence here of our port authorities — Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, international airports, and even domestic airports might be implicated and [I] understand the Palace already issued a statement concerning this that heads would roll, perhaps the committee on transportation should also be a part of the aggregated committees that would hear this,” said Tolentino.
Pimentel agreed with Tolentino.
“In rare cases we designated three committees so let us treat this as one of those rare occurrences,” said Pimentel.
In the end, Senate President Chiz Esudero accepted Pimentel’s motion, referring Sen. Risa Hontiveros’ privilege speech regarding Guo’s Philippine exit to the panels on justice, women, and public services.
READ: Senator mulls filing criminal case vs Guo, others
In a separate forum also on Wednesday, Hontiveros said the Senate panel on women’s investigations in relation to Guo would continue.
Asked what difference would the panel on justice and panel on women be made, Hontiveros said hearings conducted by the panel on justice will focus on urgent matters, specifically Guo’s “escape.”