SolGen: Guo can still run, unless…

MANILA, Philippines —  Detained Bamban mayor Alice Guo may still file a certificate of candidacy and run in next year’s elections despite an earlier ombudsman order disqualifying her from holding a public post, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said yesterday.

Guevarra said in an interview with “Storycon” on One News that none of the cases against Guo, including the ombudsman’s decision dismissing her from service, has attained finality.

“If the question is whether she can file her certificate of candidacy, the answer is yes. It’s ministerial on the part of the Comelec (Commission on Elections) to accept her certificate of candidacy. But whether she’ll be able to or be qualified to run or not is another matter. That’s a totally different matter,” Guevarra said in English and Filipino.

“The cases that have been filed against Alice Guo, none of them have achieved finality. The one from ombudsman, which is the decision that dismissed and disqualified her perpetually from running for public office, I believe that is still not final,” he added.

The same is true for the other cases filed against her, including the quo warranto and the petition for the cancellation of Guo’s birth certificate.

“Our assessment is that it is possible to have decisions from the trial courts before the end of the year,” Guevarra said, referring to the two cases. “But these decisions, even if they are favorable to the Philippine government, are subject to appeal. It’s the appeals that would delay (these cases).”

Guo is also facing several criminal cases, including a graft case pending at a Valenzuela City court and a non-bailable qualified human trafficking case lodged at a Pasig City court.

According to Guevarra, he sees two scenarios wherein Guo will be prohibited from running in next year’s elections. First is if the ombudsman decision attains finality due to the failure of Guo’s camp to file an appeal and, second, if the Comelec issues a ruling against Guo in the misrepresentation case against her.

“It’s all about timing,” he said, noting that a Comelec ruling may result in the exclusion of Guo’s name in the ballots for the 2025 elections.

The quad committee of the House of