Former mayor Alice Guo undergoes medical examination at the PNP Aviation Security Group hangar in Pasay City after her arrival from Indonesia. (photo: PNP-PIO)
Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo will temporarily stay at the Custodial Center of the Philippine National Police (PNP) at Camp Crame in Quezon City where she was taken after her arrival from Indonesia early Friday morning, Sept. 6.
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the Custodial Center is safe for Alice Guo, who earlier told Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos, Jr. that there was a threat to his life which served as a reason for her to leave the country.
Fajardo said police will first go to a Tarlac court which issued the arrest warrant against Guo for two cases of graft, to inform the judge that she is under the PNP custody.
“As a matter of procedure, we have to inform the court in Capas (Tarlac) that the arrest warrant has already been served and we will let the court decide where she will be detained,” said Fajardo.
In the event that Guo would post bail for the two counts of graft, the arrest warrant issued by the Senate would be served by the Senate Sergeant-At-Arms, according to Fajardo.
And while all these paper works are being done, Fajardo said Guo will stay at the Custodial Center.
‘Our custodial facility is secure and safe. No less than the SILG (Secretary of the Interior and Local Government) and the PNP Chief (Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil) assured her that if there are threats in her life, she will be secured,” said Fajardo.
No special treatment
Fajardo said Guo was already briefed of all the rules inside the Custodial Center when she arrived at Camp Crame.
“She will be treated as an ordinary detainee. In fact, all her personal belongings were already accounted for and will be temporarily safe-kept while she is under the PNP custody,” said Fajardo.
Fajardo said Guo will be assigned to a detention cell with one bed, with a comfort room. She said the detention cell has no air condition unit.
Guo underwent a booking procedure at the PNP-Aviation Security Group hangar in Pasay City, which includes taking of finger prints, mugshots and medical examination.
Tell the truth
In a press briefing at the Royal Star hangar in Pasay city where Guo was presented to the media, Abalos assured that Guo will be safe under police custody.
“She said she fears for her life and that is the reason why she left the country. I told her not to fear for your life, we are ready to secure you,” said Abalos.
“I told her to tell everything. What is important here is for us to know the truth,” he added.