Alice Guo stays in Pasig jail after late court order to halt transfer

Alice Guo. FILE PHOTO from Joseph B. Vidal/OSP

MANILA, Philippines — Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo will remain detained at the Pasig City Jail, as a court order to prevent her transfer from Camp Crame was issued only after she had already been moved to the facility.

Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo disclosed over the weekend that Guo’s camp filed a very urgent motion to remain at the PNP Custodial Facility, citing the alleged threats against her life.

However, the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 167 released its order only after Guo had already been transferred to Pasig City Jail’s female dormitory at around 9:30 a.m Monday.

READ: Alice Guo diagnosed with suspected lung infection, says PNP

“While this court already issued a Commitment Order dated 19 September 2024 directing the transfer of the custody of the accused-movant to the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory, the chief of the NCR CIDG (National Capital Region – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) Custodial Facility, Camp Crame, Quezon City is directed to hold in abeyance the transfer of the custody of the accused-movant pending the resolution of the subject motion,” Fajardo said reading the court order.

“This is to safeguard the rights of the accused-movant (Guo) and so as not to deprive her of the remedies that are available to her under the Rules of Court,” she further read.

In response, Fajardo said the CIDG would file a manifestation informing the court of Guo’s transfer.

“We will also ask for clarification whether or not she needs to return here or she will remain in the custody of BJMP subject wisdom and discretion of the said court,” she disclosed in a press conference.

“We already informed our PNP lawyers, and they are already coordinating with the prosecutor of the Department of Justice regarding the latest order issued by the presiding judge of RTC Branch 167,” the police official added.

READ: Alice Guo transferred to Pasig City Jail

In a separate statement, BJMP spokesperson Jayrex Bustinera said that Guo will remain under their custody “until a new court order will be issued by the court.”

“If the court orders the BJMP to transfer her back to PNP, we will comply. As of the moment, no additional court order has been received by the BJMP. She will remain in our custody until further notice,” he said.

In its order dated September 23, the court said a hearing is scheduled on September 27 at 8:30 a.m. regarding the motion filed by Guo’s camp.

However, the court issued another order on Monday afternoon after receiving a letter from Jail Inspector Jocelyn Riño of the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory.

“[T]he court received today at 12:08 p.m., stating that accused Alice Leal Guo a.k.a “Guo Hua Ping” (accused “Guo”) was already committed at the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory, the Very Urgent Motion to Remain at the PNP Custodial Facility filed by accused Guo is considered as MOOT,” the order reads.

“Consequently, the hearing of the subject motion is CANCELLED,” it adds.

The dismissed mayor was detained at the PNP Custodial Center for over two weeks before she was transferred to Pasig City Jail on Monday morning.

Guo will temporarily be detained in a cell with recovering tuberculosis patients after she was diagnosed with a suspected lung infection. She will eventually join 43 other detainees in cell no. 3 upon her recovery.