Only Senate has valid arrest warrant for Guo

SENATE Majority Leader Francis Tolentino has affirmed his stance that only the Senate holds a valid arrest warrant for Alice Guo, saying that the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Capas, Tarlac, has no jurisdiction over the former Bamban town mayor's case.

In affirming his stance, Tolentino, a lawyer and a law professor, cited during the Senate plenary session on Tuesday the transmitted sheet sent by the Office of the Ombudsman to the Executive Clerk of Court of the Third Judicial Region in Tarlac in filing the information for Guo's graft cases.

The transmittal sheet, dated Aug. 29, 2024, and signed by Assistant Ombudsman Rex Reynaldo Sandoval, included a request to the Executive Clerk of Court «for appropriate action by the Honorable Executive / Presiding Judge in the immediate determination of the nearest judicial region.»

Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO

Tolentino argued that the request was according to the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) Circular 10-2024… and RA 10660 or an Act Strengthening Further the Functional and Structural Organization of the Sandiganbayan."

In last Monday's inquiry, Tolentino moved that the Senate take custody of Guo, arguing that the arrest warrant issued by RTC Branch 109 in Capas was in violation of RA 10660 since Guo held office in Bamban, which is located in the same judicial region, and not «the nearest judicial region.»

Under Section 2 of RA 10660 on jurisdiction, "...the cases falling under the jurisdiction of the Regional Trial Court under this section shall be tried in a judicial region other than where the official holds office."

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«That means, Mr. President, there is no jurisdiction. According to this, Capas, Tarlac does not have jurisdiction, and the Executive Judge is given the power to choose the nearest judicial region,» Tolentino said.

«I am stressing this [point], Mr. President, to highlight again that as of today, the Senate's warrant of arrest should be considered the only valid warrant of arrest, » he added.

Birth certificate cancellation

Meanwhile, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said it had already «blocked» 1,500 birth registrations, including that of Guo.