Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping, plans to file her certificate of candidacy (COC) next week for her re-election bid as the municipality’s mayor, according to her lawyer, Stephen David. During an interview at the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday, David stated that Guo is expected to submit her COC by Tuesday, October 8, the deadline for filing candidacies.
Despite ongoing legal challenges, including questions about her nationality and the cancellation of her birth certificate, Guo’s camp maintains that she is Filipino. “She’s a Filipina, and no court decision has declared otherwise,” David said.
In July, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) filed a quo warranto petition against Guo, which could result in her removal from office. Additionally, the OSG has filed a petition to cancel her birth certificate, which, if successful, would undermine her defense regarding her identity.
Guo has faced numerous controversies during her time in office, including her involvement in the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Bamban. These actions led to her dismissal by the Office of the Ombudsman, which disqualified her from public office and stripped her of retirement benefits. Her legal team, however, is seeking to overturn the Ombudsman’s decision.
Despite negative publicity, her lawyer believes Guo should run again to gauge public sentiment. “There’s been a lot of negative publicity, but many people still love her because of the good she has done for Bamban,” David said, urging for a chance to let voters decide if she is deserving of another term.
In addition to her local political challenges, Guo faces multiple legal battles, including a qualified human trafficking case and a graft case, alongside a tax evasion complaint. She was also recently accused of being a Chinese spy by businessman She Zhijiang, a claim she has vehemently denied.
Guo is expected to attend upcoming legal proceedings following a missed DOJ hearing earlier this week.