The Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) reported that suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo has not been seen at her farm for several weeks. This information came to light as the OSAA attempted to serve subpoenas to Guo and her family members in connection with an ongoing Senate investigation.
Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Roberto Ancan detailed the unsuccessful attempts to serve the subpoenas in a report to Senator Risa Hontiveros. A farm helper at Guo’s residence in Barangay Virgen Delos Remedios, Bamban, Tarlac, claimed no knowledge of the mayor’s whereabouts or her siblings.
Efforts to serve the subpoenas at Bamban Municipal Hall were also unsuccessful, with Guo’s personal secretary refusing to accept them. The OSAA left copies of the documents at both locations in case the recipients return.
Guo’s legal counsel, Nicole Jamilla, eventually received the subpoenas on July 5. However, Jamilla clarified that their law firm only represents Mayor Guo and not her family members.
The suspended mayor is central to a Senate investigation regarding a raided POGO hub in Bamban. Documents suggest Guo’s personal involvement in processing paperwork for its operations. She is also suspected of ties to a Chinese-run criminal syndicate, and her citizenship status has come under scrutiny.
Guo has denied any involvement in illegal POGO activities and maintains that she is a Filipino citizen. Her lawyer, Stephen David, indicated that Guo is reluctant to attend further Senate hearings, citing her being “traumatized” by previous sessions.