Comelec: Preventive suspension won’t bar Guo from seeking reelection

Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo (PNA photo by Avito Dalan via Philippine News Agency/Facebook)

MANILA – Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo can seek reelection in next year’s midterm polls despite a looming preventive suspension against her, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Thursday.

“Kapag na-suspend ang isang local official, ‘yun naman ay hindi final conviction o judgment sa isang kaso (If a local official is suspended, that is not a final conviction or judgment in a case). In the meantime, makakatakbo po siya (she can still run in the polls),” Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said in an interview.

He, however, said other charges that may be filed against Guo is a separate matter.

“Of course, hindi natin pinag uusapan ang ibang kaso na pwede i-file sa kanya. Ayaw natin i-preempt ang maaaring maifile sa kanya na kaso. Ang sa atin, kung sakali, tatanggapin natin ang kanyang (we are not talking about other cases that may be filed against her. We don’t want to preempt any case that may be filed against her. As for us, if ever, we would accept her) Certificate of Candidacy,” he said.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government earlier asked the Office of the Ombudsman to place Guo under preventive suspension to prevent her from influencing the investigation on her identity and her possible links to a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in her town, which was earlier raided by law enforcers.

The Office of the Solicitor General has created a special team to look into Guo’s citizenship and determine if she is “unlawfully holding or exercising a public office.”

Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said once this fact is backed by proof, they would “commence quo warranto proceedings to oust the person concerned.”

Under the Omnibus Election Code, any person, who has been declared insane or incompetent, or has been sentenced by final judgment for subversion, insurrection, rebellion, or for any offense with a penalty of more than 18 months or for a crime involving moral turpitude, shall be disqualified to be a candidate.