Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo entered a not-guilty plea on Thursday to charges of material misrepresentation in her candidacy during the 2022 elections. The plea was made before the Capas Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 66 through video conferencing.
“Arraignment of the accused as she attended through video conference and pleaded not guilty,” said Atty. Nicole Jamila, one of Guo’s legal counsels, during an interview.
Background on the Case:
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) accused Guo in October of violating Section 74 of the Omnibus Election Code. The accusation stemmed from her filing a certificate of candidacy for mayor in the 2022 elections, allegedly while being a Chinese citizen. Guo was dismissed from her post as Bamban mayor in August.
Next Steps:
Jamila confirmed that Guo’s legal team plans to file for bail by next week. “This is a bailable offense, so we will work on securing her bail as soon as we complete the necessary requirements,” Jamila said.
Other Legal Challenges:
In addition to the material misrepresentation case, Guo is also facing:
- A qualified human trafficking case before a Pasig court.
- A graft case in a Valenzuela court.
- A quo warranto petition in a Manila court.
- A petition to cancel her birth certificate in a Tarlac court.
- Tax evasion, 87 counts of money laundering, and perjury and falsification complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Guo has denied all allegations, maintaining her innocence across the multiple legal proceedings.