The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday, Sept. 20, that it will adhere to a court order issued by the Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) to transfer former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo from the custodial center of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Camp Crame, Quezon City to Pasig City Jail.
PNP spokesperson Police Col. Jean Fajardo said they received an order from the Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 167 to have Guo and 14 others who were charged in connection with a raid at a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) hub in Bamban in March, to be detained at the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory for a qualified human trafficking case.
“The PNP received a copy of the order directing the PNP to transfer and turnover the custody of Alice Guo and 14 others. The Pasig City Jail issued an arrest warrant not only against Alice Guo but also her companions. This is for their qualified human trafficking case, this is a non-bailable offense,” Fajardo said in a livestreamed press conference in Camp Crame.
Fajardo said the PNP will abide by the court’s order but Guo will have to undergo physical examination and medical tests prior her turnover.
“Since the Pasig RTC already has an order, we will honor this order,” she said.
Meanwhile, the PNP said that it continues to verify the alleged threat on Guo’s life that was raised by the former mayor to authorities.
“The validation is still ongoing but we are not at liberty to reveal the updates so as not to complicate the investigation. But then again, there is an order issued by the RTC Pasig, we have to honor and follow this order,” Fajardo explained.
The PNP said unless the camp of Guo decides to file a motion for reconsideration to appeal her transfer from Camp Crame to Pasig City Jail, there is no reason for them not to obey the court order.
“Unless and until the court will issue a subsequent order holding in abeyance her transfer to Pasig RTC, we will follow the order to have her transferred to Pasig City jail,” Fajardo said.
"If they are going to file formally before the court to request for her continued stay here in PNP, then we will have to respect the decision of the court," she added.