TWO weeks after approving the filing of an election offense case against Alice Guo, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to file charges against the dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Tarlac.
In an interview, Comelec Chairman George Garcia yesterday said they will file an election offense for material misrepresentation against Guo on Monday, Oct. 28.
“The Comelec will be filing the information in the RTC in Tarlac. This means that we will formally charge her with misrepresentation, violation of the Election Code,” said Garcia.
“Our Law Department did not receive any Motion for Reconsideration from their camp regarding our Resolution to file a case against her,” he added.
In its 12-page Minute Resolution No. 24-0761, the Comelec en banc adopted the recommendation of its Law Department for the filing of the criminal raps before the appropriate regular court against Guo.
The Law Department pointed out that there is clear evidence that Guo committed material misrepresentation in her Certificate of Candidacy (COC) in the May 2022 polls.
“The people can be assured that we will pursue this case to the fullest because this is an issue on lying about her citizenship,” Garcia said.
Proof of this, the poll chief said, is their plan to seek the transfer of the trial from Tarlac to a Metro Manila court.
“It will be better if the trial is held in Metro Manila since the accused is under custody here and our Law Department will have a direct hand on the prosecution of the case,” said Garcia.
An election offense case carries the penalty of one to six years imprisonment and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
Guo is facing charges of qualified human trafficking, graft and corruption, tax evasion, money laundering, and quo warranto.