Guo forgoes bail, operations for police custody

MANILA, Philippines — Dismissed mayor Alice Guo of Bamban, Tarlac will remain in the custody of the Philippine National Police where she said she feels safe from threats to her life, after a Tarlac court issued a commitment order for the PNP to take her into custody.

Judge Sarah Vedana-Delos Santos of the Capas Regional Trial Court Branch 109 issued yesterday a commitment order for Guo’s detention at the PNP Custodial Center, the detention facility for high-risk inmates at Camp Crame.

“You will receive and keep the said accused during the pendency of the said charges subject to the order of the court,” Vedana-Delos Santos told the PNP in her order.

The judge approved a request of Sen. Risa Hontiveros to allow Guo to attend the continuation of the Senate hearings on Tuesday.

Guo’s lawyers manifested that she would forgo bail of P90,000 each for violating two provisions of the anti-graft and corrupt practices law.

Guo, upon her arrival on Thursday, said that she feels happy and safe under Philippine police custody, citing death threats she had been getting.

“I’m confirming what the secretary has said that I have death threats and I’m seeking their help. And I’m very happy to see them and now I feel safe,” Guo said, recalling her short conversation with Interior and Local Government Secretary Behur Abalos.

Guo’s lawyer Stephen David said she opted not to post bail as she would still remain in detention anyway because of the arrest warrant issued against her by the Senate.

“No urgent necessity to post bail,” he told The STAR in a text message, saying it is Guo’s call to stay under the custody of the PNP and not the Senate.

The court, meanwhile, also granted the request of Sen. Risa Hontiveros that Guo be allowed to attend the next hearing of the Senate on Monday on Guo’s links to criminal activities of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO).

Guo, a Chinese national named Guo Hua Ping, was brought to the court by a convoy which left Camp Crame at around 9:40 a.m., accompanied by heavily armed policemen. She was brought back to the PNP’s main camp at around 2:12 p.m.

The latest development means Guo will not be detained at the Senate which issued an arrest order