Mug shots of Alice Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping, released on September 6, 2024. | PHOTO: Official Facebook page of Benhur Abalos
MANILA, Philippines — A Valenzuela court has allowed suspected human trafficker and dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo to attend the investigation of the Senate committee on women scheduled on Tuesday.
In an order sent to the media on Monday afternoon, the Valenzuela Regional Trial Court Branch 282 said Guo, otherwise known as Chinese national Guo Hua Ping, is allowed to appear for the hearing before the Senate committee on “September 17, 2024, at 9:00 o’clock in the morning upon the request of panel head Sen. Risa Hontiveros.”
“Acting on the letter request of Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality, and recognizing the Senate’s power to conduct inquiries in aid of legislation, accused Alice Guo a.k.a Guo Hua Ping is hereby allowed to attend the joint public hearing of the committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality on September 17, 2024, at 9:00 o’clock in the morning,” the order reads.
“The Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Facility is hereby directed to bring accused Alice Guo a.k.a Guo Hua Ping to the said public hearing,” it adds.
The Valenzuela court likewise ordered the PNP to provide a strict security when bringing Guo to the Senate as well as submit to the court a written report as to the time that the dismissed Bamban mayor was brought back to the PNP custodial facility.
READ: Alice Guo’s graft case now under Valenzuela court
Guo, who is currently detained at the PNP custodial center, cannot be brought to the Senate if there is no prior approval from the court.
Tarlac Regional Trial Court Branch 109 earlier served a warrant of arrest against Guo over her alleged violation of the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, but she has not posted bail so far.
Her graft case, however, was transferred from Capas to Valenzuela RTC as the latter has no jurisdiction over the ex-mayor’s case.
Guo left the country on July 18. She was arrested and brought back to the Philippines on September 4.