Lawyer advises Guo to surrender

MANILA, Philippines — Saying she cannot hide forever, a lawyer for suspended Mayor Alice Guo of Bamban, Tarlac has advised her to surrender to the Senate, which failed to serve a warrant for her arrest.

In a radio interview, Guo’s legal counsel Stephen David maintained that the suspended mayor is still in the country.

“We were able to talk via Zoom, but personally, I believe she is still in the Philippines. First, the lookout (bulletin) of the (Bureau of) Immigration is very strict,” David said.

The Senate Sergeant-at-Arms failed to serve the warrant of arrest against Guo after she was not found at the addresses indicated, including her residences in Tarlac, Bulacan and Valenzuela.

“We were able to talk for more than one hour. Of course, my advice to her (is to surrender) as she cannot hide forever,” David said.

He added the warrant of arrest was only issued by the Senate to compel her to testify as a resource person.

“The Senate warrant of arrest is not meant to penalize her. She was subpoenaed to testify as a resource person because they (senators) want to ask her questions only she can answer. If she will be able to answer, eventually, the arrest order will be lifted,” David added.

As a lawyer, David said he is an advocate of the rule of law. “You have a warrant of arrest, you should surrender. It is not good that you will become precedent as a fugitive, especially if you are a government official,” he said, recalling his advice to Guo.

But he maintained that it is still up to Guo to decide whether to finally surrender.

“She told me that she will reconsider her options. I told her I can ask the Senate to provide her a better space as a public official, she deserves respect,” he said.

According to David, Guo is assured of protection in the “sacred hall” of the Senate.

“What I can do is to explain to her the consequences,” David said.

Also ordered arrested by the Senate were Siemen Guo, Wesley Guo, Sheila Guo, the mayor’s alleged mother Wen Yi Lin and Dennis Cunanan, who had appeared before the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality, chaired by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, which is investigating alleged illegal activities in