Comelec sets Sept. 12 deadline for Guo’s reply to poll rap

Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo (PNA photo by Avito Dalan)

By Ferdinand Patinio, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has granted anew the request of the camp of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo for another extension to file her counter-affidavit to the material misrepresentation complaint she is facing.

Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said Tuesday the poll body’s law department approved a 10-day extension only.

“Dapat natapos first extension ng Sept. 2. Humingi sila 15 days. Ten days (lang) binigay ng law department namin, Sept. 12 dapat deadline niya, 10 calendar days po. Kaya Sept. 2 ay hanggang Sept. 12 ang palugit na ibibigay sa kampo ni mayor Guo (The first extension was supposed to lapse on Sept. 2. They asked for 15 days but our law department only gave 10 days. Her deadline is on Sept. 12, that is 10 calendar days. So the extension that would be given to the camp of former mayor Guo is Sept. 2 until Sept. 12),” the poll body chief said in a radio interview.

In a one-page order dated Sept. 9, Comelec Law Department Director Maria Norina Casingal said this would be the final extension to be granted to Guo.

“Thereafter, no further extension shall be granted,” she added.

Garcia, meanwhile, said he understands the law department’s decision to grant the request of Guo’s camp.

“Sa isang preliminary investigation, kahit ordinaryong kaso, iyon ay pinagbibigyan sapagkat kasong kriminal ang hinaharap ng tao. Again, binibigyan natin ng due process at yan naman ay ginagarantiya ng saligang batas (In a preliminary investigation, even in ordinary cases, this is granted because this is a criminal charge. Again, we give them due process and this is also guaranteed by the Constitution,” he said.

Earlier, a material misrepresentation complaint was filed motu proprio by the Comelec against Guo regarding alleged false claims in her certificate of candidacy filed in the May 2022 polls.

The Comelec’s law department served the subpoena for Guo at the Mayor’s Office of the Bamban Municipal Hall on Aug. 13 and directed her to personally file her counter-affidavit.

Initially, Guo’s camp asked for a 10-day extension or until Sept 1 to file her counter-affidavit, which the law department granted.

On Sept. 5, the poll body received the dismissed mayor’s petition dated Aug. 30 asking for a 15-day extension of the deadline to file her reply to the complaint.