On Friday, Atty. Stephen David, the legal counsel for dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, confirmed that his client will be seeking the mayoral position in the 2025 midterm elections.
“Well, definitely she will be running for mayor,” David stated during an ambush interview at the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Guo's camp may file her Certificate of Candidacy (COC) next week, just before the deadline for submitting COCs.
According to David, there is currently no court ruling stating that she is not a Filipino citizen.
"Dapat kasi makita ng bayan kung mahal talaga siya ng Bamban. Kasi kung mahal siya, mananalo siya. Kung ayaw na sa kanya, hindi na siya mananalo," said David.
David further stated that it is up to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to determine whether Guo is qualified to run or not.
"Kasi ‘yung Ombudsman ruling, hindi pa naman final ‘yon. In fact, may pending pa kaming reconsideration doon and mayroon pa namang Court of Appeals, mayroon pa namang Supreme Court," David explained.
In a previous exclusive interview with DZRH, Comelec Chairman Atty. George Garcia mentioned that the Comelec would accept her COC if she decides to file for the mayoral race in Bamban.
However, Garcia clarified that this does not guarantee that Guo will automatically be eligible to run for any position.
In August, Guo was dismissed from office following a decision by the Office of the Ombudsman, which forfeited all her retirement benefits and imposed a perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has canceled Guo's passport, as it was fraudulently acquired. This decision comes after the DOJ and NBI confirmed that Guo's fingerprints matched those of a Chinese national named Guo Hua Ping.
Guo is currently detained at the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory due to charges of qualified human trafficking filed in the Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC).
