Comelec files material misrepresentation charges against Alice Guo

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has officially filed a criminal complaint against Bamban and Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, who was dismissed for allegedly making material misrepresentations regarding her candidacy in the 2022 elections.

In an information filed on October 26, the Comelec accused Guo of violating Article 74 of the Omnibus Electoral Code (OEC) when he filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for mayor in the 2022 elections despite being a Chinese citizen.

“On or about October 1, 2021 and in connection with the May 9, 2022 National and Local Elections in the Municipality of Bamban, Province of Tarlac and during the filing of Candidacy Papers within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Judge. According to the court, the defendant Alice Leal Guo/Hua Ping Lin Guo knowingly and unlawfully made material misrepresentation by applying to his COC for the position of Mayor of Bamban Municipality, Tarlac Province, and declaring under oath, that he sought election to the polling agency, when in fact he was a Chinese citizen and a resident of Fujian, China. He stated that it was suitable for

The charges were filed with the Tarlac Regional Trial Court (RTC).

Last week, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said the pollster would formally file charges against Guo after his camp failed to file a motion for reconsideration against an earlier decision. He impeached the mayor before the RTC for violating Chapter 74 of the OEC regarding Section 262.

Garcia also said the ballot committee will submit a motion to the Tarlac RTC to transfer Guo’s hearing venue.

“Hindi po ito including wala tayong tiwala sa ating korte. We prepared a page with a lot of people. Subalit siyempre po, tatandaan natin na nandoon tayo sa isang lugar na ‘yun mismong security in security and witnesses in mga lawyers natin ay atin din pong pinoprotektahan,” he said earlier.

(This is not because we do not trust our courts. Comelec has full confidence in our judiciary and judges. But of course, we must not forget that we are in a place where the safety and security of our witnesses and lawyers are ensured. It is our responsibility to protect it.)

Guo faces charges of corruption, aggravated human trafficking, money laundering and tax evasion for his alleged involvement in the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) headquarters in his town.

Guo was dismissed He resigned from his post as mayor of Bamban in August.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs canceled Philippine passport after Guo’s biometric information was revealed match Files of Chinese passport holder Guo Hua Ping in the files of the National Bureau of Investigation.

Guo expressed his intention to run in the 2025 midterm elections but later announced he was withdrawing from the mayoral race in Bamban. —RF, GMA Integrated News