Suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo has expressed gratitude to her supporters, emphasizing that she has no regrets about entering politics despite the challenges she has faced.
In a lengthy Facebook post on Friday, July 12, Guo addressed her political journey, which began as an independent mayoralty candidate in the 2022 elections.
“Most Frequent Asked Question… Nagsisi ka ba Alice at pumasok ka sa politika? The answer is HINDI… pero nasaktan ako ng husto nang politika. I almost lost myself…” Guo said.
Guo thanked the Bamban community for their support amidst the accusations against her and apologized to those who were inadvertently involved. “Humihingi po ako ng paumanhin sa mga taong nadamay at pilit na idinadamay. Ako po ay nakikiusap din to stop spreading false information,” she wrote.
Senate Orders Arrest
On Saturday, the Senate issued an arrest order against Guo for repeatedly failing to attend the investigation into the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Bamban. Also ordered arrested were Dennis Lacson Cunanan, Nancy Jimenez Gamo, Sheila Leal Guo, Wesley Leal Guo, Jian Zhong Guo, Seimen L. Guo, and Wenyi Lin. The orders were issued by Senator Risa Hontiveros and approved by Senate President Francis Escudero.
Questions About Identity
During a Senate panel hearing on June 26, Senator Hontiveros presented an NBI document showing the picture of another woman named Alice Leal Guo. The document indicated that both women shared the same birthdate and birthplace. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian suggested that Alice Guo might be Guo Hua Ping, who entered the Philippines in 2003.
A Temporary Ordeal
Guo thanked various community members for their support, describing her current situation as temporary. She expressed her longing for the people of Bamban and apologized for her absence. The Senate Sergeant-at-Arms reported that Guo had not been seen at her farm for several weeks, with her lawyer citing trauma from the Senate hearings.
In closing her post, Guo reaffirmed her identity and commitment to her community: “Ako po ay isang FILIPINO. At MAY MALAKING puso for BAMBAN at mahal na mahal ko ang Pilipinas.”