Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo (Photo from Voltaire F. Domingo/ Senate Social Media Unit)
MANILA, Philippines — The graft case of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo has been transferred from the Capas, Tarlac Regional Trial Court (RTC) to the Valenzuela City RTC, according to the Capas court’s order.
Based on the order issued by Capas, Tarlac RTC Branch 109, Guo’s case was transferred as the town has no jurisdiction over the ex-mayor’s case.
A copy of the court order was sent to reporters on Friday by the office of Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino.
The document cited Section 2 of Republic Act No. 10660, or An Act Strengthening Further the Functional and Structural Organization of the Sandiganbayan as the reason for the case transfer.
It explained that government officials classified as having a salary grade of 27 and above cannot be filed with a case under the jurisdiction where they held a post.
This covers “provincial governors, vice-governors, members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and provincial treasurers, assessors, engineers, and other provincial department heads:City mayors, vice-mayors, members of the sangguniang panlungsod, city treasurers, assessors, engineers, and other city department heads,” among others.
Furthermore, the order said that Guo was supposedly scheduled for an arraignment and pre-trial on Friday afternoon for her graft case, but it was canceled due to lack of jurisdiction.
Tolentino, in an interview with reporters, said there will be a raffle on Guo’s case at the Valenzuela RTC to determine the judge and branch that will handle the case.
According to the senator, the Valenzuela City RTC is the nearest court where Guo’s case can be transferred.
He said the court in Nueva Vizcaya is not viable as it is too far from her current detention center in Quezon City.
In a post on ‘X,’ Tolentino thanked the Capas Tarlac RTC for the transfer.
“I would like to thank the Regional Trial Court of RTC Capas Tarlac Branch 109 for transferring the case of Alice Guo to the RTC of Valenzuela City, as this is in conformity with Rep. Act 10660- the arraignment today will be rescheduled – Mabuhay ang Judiciary!,” the post read.
Meanwhile, in a separate post on ‘X,’ Senator Sherwin Gatchalian hailed the “legal prowess” of Tolentino.
“Thanks to the leagl prowess of Sen. Francis Tolentino, the case of Guo Hua Ping aka Alice Guo (Criminal Case No. 10060-24 and 10061-24; PP vs. Alice Leal Guo) is on its way to Valenzuela City RTC,” Gatchalian said.
“This comes full circle as Guo Hua Ping allegedly lived in Valenzuela (her registered address in Valenzuela City), she went to Chinese school near Valenzuela, now her case will be tried in Valenzuela City” he added.
