New court on Alice Guo case allows Senate hearing attendance

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Valenzuela Regional Trial Court, now handling the graft case of former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, has granted a Senate committee's request for her to attend the hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 17.

“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,” the Valenzuela RTC ruled on Monday.

It ordered the Philippine National Police to escort Guo to the hearing, which will be held at the Senate Session Hall at 9 a.m.

Guo is detained at the PNP Custodial Facility in Camp Crame on graft charges; she had refused to post the P180,000 bail. The charges are related to her alleged involvement in illegal offshore gaming operations.

“Accordingly, the Philippine National Police Headquarters Support Service is hereby directed to provide a strict security protocol,” read the court order signed by Branch 282 Presiding Judge Elena Amigo-Amano.

The Valenzuela RTC took over the case last week. The Capas, Tarlac RTC acknowledged a potential violation of Office of the Court Administrator Circular No. 10-2024, which requires that cases involving public officials be forwarded to the nearest RTC within the closest judicial region.

In Guo's case, this is the Valenzuela RTC.

It also ordered the police to bring Guo “back to the PNP Custodial Facility” – clarifying that she should remain there rather than at the Senate, in line with the commitment order issued by the Capas RTC.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the committee conducting the probe, said the Senate should have custody of Guo, as it issued the arrest order that led to her arrest in Indonesia after she fled the Philippines.