MANILA, Philippines — The arraignment of former Bamban mayor Alice Guo for graft and corruption before a Valenzuela court has been postponed anew after the prosecution, through the Office of the Ombudsman, filed a motion to admit the amended information in both criminal cases.
Initially set for Sept. 30, the arraignment has been rescheduled to Oct. 28 through video conferencing at the Valenzuela Regional Trial Court branch 282.
Guo is charged with violating Sections 3 (e) and 3 (h) of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
In its recent order, the court granted the prosecution’s motion to admit the amended information, citing that the amendments were made before Guo had entered a plea, in accordance with the Rules of Criminal Procedure.
It also ordered the defense to file an amended or supplemental motion to quash in relation to the new charges or to notify the court if they would maintain their original motion.
Defense lawyer Stephen David earlier filed a motion to quash information or dismiss the cases.
Meanwhile, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said the allegation that Guo is a spy for China should be taken seriously.
“If true, this is the first time a spy has legitimately won the election, and the question will come in as to how many Alice Guos got into the government,” Gatchalian said.
He added that it would not be surprising if Guo or spies appeared in the country because espionage is also rampant in other countries.
During the hearing at the House of Representatives, a special report by an international news agency floated the allegation that Guo was a Chinese spy, an allegation that Guo strongly denied.
But Gatchalian said no one would admit to spying and would deny it to the end. — Cecille Suerte Felipe