Senator Risa Hontiveros questioned the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on whether it deliberately filed a weak case to gain custody of dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo.
According to Hontiveros, what happened was highly irregular.
As a result, Hontiveros wrote to the Regional Trial Court Branch 109 in Capas, Tarlac, and the Philippine National Police Custodial Center, requesting Guo’s presence at the Senate hearing on Monday.
The court approved Hontiveros’ request for Guo to attend the Senate hearing.
She noted that the suspended mayor should have already been brought to the Senate after being processed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) or the PNP.
Hontiveros emphasized that the Sandiganbayan should handle graft and corruption charges against high-ranking officials like Guo.
Meanwhile, Guo’s legal counsel, Atty. Stephen David, expressed that Guo might prefer to stay in the Senate detention facility, where Shiela Guo is also detained.
However, David clarified that Guo has no power to choose, and the decision lies with the court.
With the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality set to hold a hearing on Monday, September 9, David wants his client to attend the hearing.