Alice Guo brought to court over graft charges

MANILA, Philippines — Dismissed Bamban town mayor Alice Guo was taken to the municipality of Capas on Friday morning, hours after returning to the Philippines, to face the graft charges filed against her before a Tarlac court.

A warrant of arrest against Guo was issued Thursday night by Tarlac Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 109 for violating Section 3 (e) and (h) of the Republic Act 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Escorted by personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Headquarters Support Service, Guo left the PNP custodial facility in Camp Crame, Quezon City at about 9:40 a.m.

According to PNP spokesman Col. Jean Fajardo, the former mayor who was apprehended in Indonesia on Wednesday, September 4, appeared before the RTC «as a matter of procedure.» Col. Fajardo said Guo was presented to the judge to prove that she has been arrested.

The court subsequently issued a commitment order for Guo to be detained at the PNP Custodial Facility.

It directed the PNP to «receive and keep» the accused during the pendency of the said charges subject to the order of the court.

Fajardo, meanwhile, pointed out that the Senate must seek the court's permission first before Guo appears at its panel hearings.

Fajardo said that the warrant of arrest issued by the RTC takes precedence over the arrest warrant issued by the Senate. At the same time, Guo has not yet posted bail so she is still within the jurisdiction of the court.