Dismissed Mayor Alice Guo of Bambang, Tarlac province, was found in contempt by the House of Representatives Quad Committee for refusing to answer lawmakers’ questions truthfully.
Rep. Joseph Steven Paduano, president of the Abang Lingod Party, filed a motion to hold Guo in contempt for repeatedly exercising his right of self-incrimination during the QuadCom hearings.
“You are deceiving this country, you are deceiving the Filipino people…I am filing a criminal contempt complaint against Alice Guo,” Paduano said.
The lawmaker also filed a motion to have Guo detained under the jurisdiction of the House of Representatives.
“My second motion is to detain Alice Guo pending the adoption by plenary of the committee report of this investigation. Since Alice Guo is currently being held at the PNP (Philippine National Police) Detention Center, the issue of jurisdiction will be discussed after this hearing,” he added.
24 Oras reported that it was unclear at the time of writing where she would be detained following the House of Representatives’ contempt order.
Guo is being held at the PNP Detention Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City after failing to post bail in a Tarlac provincial court on corruption charges.
On September 9, the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality filed a second contempt suit against Guo for repeatedly lying to senators.
QuadCom, which comprises the House of Representatives’ Dangerous Drugs, Public Order and Safety, Human Rights, and Public Accounts Committees, is investigating extrajudicial killings, illegal drugs, and alleged criminal activities by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
Guo may be involved in running a POGO hub that was raided by law enforcement authorities in Bangalore following reports of illegal activity.
Also during the Quadcom hearing on Thursday, Guo said he did not know some of his business partners were criminals. — Giselle Ann C. Kazsian/VDV, GMA Integrated News