House seeks parallel probe on Bamban mayor’s background
TWO lawmakers on Monday said the House of Representatives may consider a parallel probe into questions raised on the identity of Bamban Mayor Alice Guo at the Senate.
“On the issue of Mayor Alice Guo, I guess it’s a possibility to have a parallel investigation here in House of Representatives. This is very serious and at the same time very alarming, because imagine, allegedly she is Chinese person, was able to register herself 17 years after she was born, what happened was late registration,” House Assistant Majority Leader and AKO Bicol Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon told newsmen.
Bongalon said the issues pertaining to Guo “are very alarming.”
“It appears that they are manipulating our laws and our processes here in our country and this should be stopped. This is a national security issue that needs to be given and focused on by our government,” he said.
House Assistant Majority Leader and La Union Rep. Francisco Paolo Ortega shared Bongalon’s views as he described Guo’s background as “shady.”
“Circumstances pertaining to Guo was really a bit shady... Because you don’t seem to know where you came from. That’s how it used to be. Anyone here probably knows where you went to school, who these relevant people are, and important highlights of your life,” he said.
Bongalon reminded the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to thoroughly screen candidates for the upcoming midterm elections.
“The Commission on Elections must keep an eye on this, that it should screen all the candidates for this upcoming midterm election, that they should be telling the truth. So, our government should really look into this,” he said.
Guo is accused of facilitating and backing an illegal Chinese gambling site in Tarlac’s southernmost town.
Guo during the Senate hearing said she did not have school records because she was home schooled from elementary to high school and did not go to college. Her birth was only registered when she was 17 years old.
Meanwhile, the Comelec on Monday clarified that Bamban Mayor Alice Guo officially won the mayoralty race in that small town of Bamban in Tarlac province and nobody has filed any election protest against her.
Comelec chairman George Garcia issued the statement following questions from several lawmakers on the real identity and citizenship of Guo, who was being linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
In an interview, Garcia explained that the Comelec approved her application as a registered voter in April 2021, more than a year ahead of the May 2022 polls.
“Our law says if you just submit a government-issued ID, you can be a registered voter unless somebody questions or opposes your application. Nobody questioned or opposed her application so she became a registered voter,” he said.
However, Garcia said Guo could be charged with perjury if she mis-declared herself as a Filipino citizen.
Guo run as mayor of the Tarlac municipality in the 2022 elections and won.
“If it is proven that she is not really a Filipino citizen, then she can be liable or be charged with perjury,” the poll chief said.
Any Filipino citizen can run for any government post by simply submitting a government-issued ID.
“You can be a registered voter unless somebody questions or opposes your application. Nobody questioned or opposed her application so she became a registered voter,” he said.
He said natural-born or naturalized Filipinos are allowed to seek local positions.
“The Comelec’s role is only ministerial, as long as all blanks in the Certificate of Candidacy are accomplished, we will accept them, as long as under oath. We do not have the discretion to refuse,” Garcia said.
The law does not require you to submit or bring your mother and father to prove that you are Filipino, Garcia added, saying the poll body presumes the declaration of aspiring candidates is true until a disqualification or cancellation of candidacy case is filed by a registered voter.