Atty. Elmer Galicia, who operates an office in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, confirmed on Tuesday that he met and had a conversation with suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo on August 14.
In an interview on Dos Por Dos on Tuesday, Galicia stated that he unexpectedly encountered Guo at 7:00 p.m. outside his office in San Jose Del Monte, where he notarized her counter-affidavit, as referred by an individual named Allan.
"Ito pong si Ka-Allan, nilapit niya po sa akin para daw po magpapanotaryo daw siya. Galing ako sa Baliuag, Bulacan at umuwi ako ng San Jose Del Monte dahil doon naman ako nakatira, dumaan ako sa office. Doon, wala akong kaalam-alam at tinawag ako pagka-park ng sasakyan. Pinakita sa akin na si mayor pala 'yun," Galicia explained.
(Ka-Allan approached me, asking if I could notarize a document. I had just returned from Baliuag, Bulacan, and went to my office in SJDM because I live there. As I parked my car, I was called over. It was then that I realized it was Mayor Guo.)
"Sabi ko 'mayor', sabi niya sa akin 'Alice na lang po, pasensya na po kayo atty. at wala akong malapitan. Wala na pong gustong tumulong sa akin masyado na po akong masama sa itsura ng mga tao," Galicia quoted Guo as saying.
(I called her 'Mayor,' but she told me, 'Just call me Alice, Attorney. I’m sorry, but I have no one else to turn to. No one wants to help me anymore; people already view me very negatively)
Galicia maintained his professional respect for Guo and did not invite her out of her car. He proceeded to notarize the counter-affidavit as requested.
"Pakiramdam ko nangangailangan ng tulong itong tao at bakit ko ide-deny, duty ko 'to bilang abogado na mag-represent. Ang ginawa ko, tiningnan ko ang ipinakitang ID, pinakita niya yung kanyang drivers license at umakyat ako ng office para i-notaryo," Galicia added, noting that the encounter was brief and that he didn’t even enter Guo’s white vehicle.
(I felt that she needed help, and as a lawyer, it’s my duty to represent those in need. I checked her ID, which was her driver’s license, and then went up to my office to notarize the document.)
Galicia emphasized that it was unlikely that Guo had any intention to violate the law, as she had submitted a counter-affidavit.
"Ang mga taong gusto talagang magtago at ayaw nang magpasakop sa batas ay hindi na magsu-submit ng counter affidavit 'yang mga 'yan kasi kung ang gusto po nila ay gumawa ng masama, mag-vaviolate sila ng batas, bat pa sila magpapasakot. Pero ito po gusto pa magsubmit ng counter affidavit," Galicia said.
(People who intend to hide or evade the law wouldn’t submit a counter-affidavit. If they planned to commit wrongdoing or violate the law, why would they submit to legal processes? But here, she still wanted to submit a counter-affidavit)
"I am given in good faith na siya nga [Alice Guo] ito, wala naman reason para magduda," he added.
(I acted in good faith, believing that she was indeed Alice Guo; I had no reason to doubt.)
During a Senate session on Monday, Senator Risa Hontiveros revealed that Guo had left the country and traveled to Malaysia on July 18. The suspended mayor allegedly also went to Singapore to meet with her parents, Lin Wen Yi and Guo Jian Zhong.
The couple reportedly flew to China on July 28, 2024.
Hontiveros accused certain officials of assisting Guo in successfully leaving the country.
"Mistulang reunion sila doon kasama sina Wesley Guo at Cassandra Ong," said Hontiveros.
"Who allowed this travesty to happen? Sinong may kagagawan nito? Hindi makakaalis si Alice Guo kung walang tumulong sa kanya na mga opisyales ng pamahalaan. Para tayong ginisa sa sarili nating mantika."
(It seemed like a reunion there with Wesley Guo and Cassandra Ong. Who allowed this travesty to happen? Who is responsible? Alice Guo wouldn’t have been able to leave without help from government officials. We’ve been deceived.)
