A Valenzuela court has allowed dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo to attend the continuation of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality’s investigation into the illegal activities of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) scheduled on Tuesday, September 17.
Valenzuela City Regional Trial Court Branch No. 282 Presiding Judge Elena Amigo-Amano released the order today Sept. 16, 2024, directing the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Facility to bring Guo to the Senate and "provide a strict security protocol."
“Acting on the Letter Request of Senate, Committee On Women, Children,Family Relations And Gender Equality, and recognizing the Senate's power to conduct inguiries in aid of legislation, accused Alice Guo a.k.a Guo Hua Ping is hereby allowed to attend the joint public hearing of the Committee On Women,Children, Family Relations And Gender Equality on September 17, 2024, at 9:00o'clock in the morning,” Amigo-Amano stated in the order.
“The Philippine National Police Headquarters Support Service is hereby directed to provide a strict security protocol and to bring the person ofaccused Alice Guo a.k.a Guo Hua Ping to the Senate for the said joint public hearingon September 17, 2024, at 9:00 o'clock in the morning, and to submit to the court a written report as to the time the accused was brought to the Senate and back to thePNP Custodial Facility,” she further said.
Earlier, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Senator Risa Hontiveros, who is leading the investigation into illegal POGOS, wrote the Valenzuela City Regional Trial Court and requested Guo's physical appearance at the Senate investigation.
This was after the graft cases against Guo that were pending before the Capas, Regional Trial Court was transferred to the Valenzuela RT C in compliance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 10660.
Under RA 10660, cases falling under the jurisdiction of the Regional Trial Court “shall be tried in a judicial region other than where the official holds office.”