Alice Guo asks Manila RTC to dismiss quo warranto petition filed by OSG
Dismissed Mayor Alice L. Guo of Bamban, Tarlac has asked the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) dismiss the quo warranto petition that sought to nullify her proclamation as a public official, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) said on Tuesday, Sept. 3.
Solicitor General Menardo I. Guevarra said Guo’s lawyers have filed a motion that asked the RTC to dismiss the petition filed by the OSG.
“The motion was heard on Aug. 30. For resolution by the court,” said Guevarra.
The solicitor general noted the court conducted the hearing after the OSG filed its comment and opposition on the motion filed by Guo’s lawyers.
Guevarra assured that the OSG will continue to pursue the quo warranto petition even if the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) had already ordered the dismissal of Guo.
“The OSG’s petition and the OMB’s order comprise a double-barrel approach,” he pointed out.
“The OSG’s quo warranto is based on Guo’s ineligibility to hold public office, to begin with,” he explained.
On the other hand, he said “the OMB’s order does not dwell on Guo’s eligibility or qualification, but on unlawful acts she committed while holding public office.”
“The OSG seeks her ouster; the OMB seeks her removal. In both cases, though, Guo may be permanently barred from running for/holding public office,” he also said.
Meanwhile, Guo has already fled the Philippines and is believed to be in Jakarta, Indonesia.
In its quo warranto petition that was filed before the Manila RTC last July 29, the OSG cited the findings of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on the dactyloscopy or examination of the fingerprints conducted on Guo which showed that she is Chinese national Guo Hua Ping.
“Indeed, one of the paramount, yet most basic, requirements for local elective office is Filipino citizenship. Thus, the Supreme Court, in cases too numerous to mention, has emphasized that only Filipinos who owe total and undivided allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines could run for and hold elective public office,” the OSG said in its quo warranto petition.
“In this case, respondent Guo Hua Ping is ineligible to be voted for and elected as Mayor of Bamban, Tarlac. Hence, her continuous discharge of the duties, powers, and responsibilities of the Office of Mayor of Bamban, Tarlac is tantamount to usurpation of such office,” it stressed.