Alice Guo seeks SC intervention to avoid Senate hearings

MANILA, Philippines — The legal team of embattled Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo has petitioned the Supreme Court (SC) to annul and set aside the subpoena issued by the Senate in connection with the investigation into criminal activities involving Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).

In a 78-page petition for review, Guo’s camp requested the high court to nullify the subpoena issued on July 1 by the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, alleging that the Senate panel violated certain constitutional rights.

“Ironically, Public Respondent or the Senate Committee on  Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality totally,  whimsically, and arbitrarily discriminates against the very institution and rights it is sworn to protect,” the petition read.

“Her Constitutionally guaranteed freedoms and rights have been repeatedly violated, ignored, and/or disregarded,” it added.

On Wednesday, the Senate panel, chaired by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, cited Guo in contempt after she failed to appear at the committee’s inquiry into alleged criminal activities within the POGO industry.

Hontiveros ruled to cite Guo and others in contempt following separate motions by Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada and Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.

Hontiveros also ruled to issue a warrant of arrest against Guo, which would need the Senate president's signature to take effect.

Aside from the nullification of the Senate order, Guo’s camp also asked the high court to issue a temporary restraining order or a writ of preliminary injunction to compel the Senate panel to desist from further inviting her as a “resource person.”

Guo’s camp argued that Hontiveros violated the mayor’s right to due process as she was allegedly not allowed to explain herself.

“However, a careful perusal of the transcript of stenographic notes during the May 7, 2024 and May 22, 2024 show that several violations of Petitioner’s right to due process were committed. One, she was invited as a resource person to discuss ‘what she knows' but in reality, she was never afforded any opportunity to sufficiently explain her side whenever a certain issue was raised. Two, although she