FORMER Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo’s camp is demanding that the National Bureau of Investigation eliminate the perjury and falsification concerns filed against her along with her signed affidavit for her human trafficking case involving illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, or POGOs.
Guo’s lawyer, Atty. Stephen David said they had already submitted their counter-affidavit while Guo appeared before a panel of federal prosecutors at the Department of Justice on Tuesday.
“This is the preliminary investigation in the case of perjury and falsification, well we submitted a counter-affidavit so basically the PI on our part is over except if the other side replies we will answer,” David informed
The National Bureau of Investigation had filed multiple complaints against Guo and five others with the Department of Justice to do with her allegedly fraudulent counter-affidavit.
Guo, lawyer Elmer Galicia, who notarized the counter-affidavit, and four other people are accused of falsifying a notary public’s signature, using forged documents, perjury, and obstruction of justice.
The counter-affidavit signed by Guo and Galicia was dated August 14, 2024, some weeks after Guo allegedly fled the Philippines on July 18, 2024.
David insisted that there was no evidence to accuse Guo of perjury and fabrication.
“She was the one who signed because it was pre-signed, so I don’t see any falsification there because he was the one who signed, now we should ask who did the notary,” he added.
When asked if Galicia should be nailed down rather than notarizing Guo’s affidavit, David declined to answer.
“Of course, I can’t comment on that because it’s sub-judice, but on the part of the affiant, the mayor, he’s not there, how can you tell him to face the lawyer,” David added.
Guo is currently detained at the Pasig City Jail on allegations of unlawful POGOs.
The former mayor of Bamban left the Philippines in July for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She was finally arrested by Indonesian officials early in September.
She continually denied becoming one of the “big bosses” behind POGO operations in the Philippines, telling the Senate last month that she is a “victim.”