Alice Guo, the dismissed mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, revealed during a Senate inquiry that she signed the last page of her counter-affidavit related to a human trafficking case before leaving the Philippines in the first week of July. However, the affidavit was notarized on August 14 and submitted to the Department of Justice two days later, sparking questions during the ongoing investigation into illegal POGO operations.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian questioned whether the document was fully completed when Guo signed it. Guo responded that the affidavit was only partially finished at the time. When asked if she read the details, Guo invoked her right against self-incrimination.
During the hearing, Senator Risa Hontiveros presented the affidavit of a witness, “Ka Dante,” who stated that he assisted in notarizing Guo’s affidavit. The document was allegedly handed to him unsigned on August 14 by one of Guo’s secretaries, Gee Pepito, after which it was signed in a vehicle where Guo was present. The affidavit was later brought to a law office in Bulacan, where concerns about Guo’s presence during notarization were raised.
Guo’s secretary, Cath Salazar, admitted to contacting a colleague of Mayor Liseldo “Dong” Calugay of Sual, Pangasinan, to facilitate notarization. Hontiveros expressed doubts about Guo and Calugay’s claims of no personal or business ties, highlighting the involvement of Calugay’s staff in the notarization process.
The counter-affidavit, prepared by Gana, Atienza, Avisado Law Firm, was completed and sent to Guo’s team on August 14. Despite claims from Guo’s lawyers that they were unaware of her plans to leave the country, Senator Gatchalian pointed out that the document’s signature was added well in advance of its notarization, suggesting prior knowledge of her departure.
The ongoing investigation continues to scrutinize the timeline of events and the role of Guo’s legal team.