MANILA, Philippines – Ex Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo’s legal counsel Stephen David and lawyer Elmer Galicia, who had both consistently claimed that the former town chief was still in the Philippines despite reports that she was now in another country should be held accountable, said the Department of Justice.
In an interview, Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty said David is accountable for repeatedly making false statements that Guo has not left the Philippines despite intelligence reports that she has entered into foreign borders.
“Pinalaganap niya ‘yung kwento na nandito pa si Alice Guo sa mga interviews sa mga kung saan-saang istasyon kaliwa’t-kanan ano, so para sa’min, kailangan mapasagot sila, kailangan madala man sa IBP [Integrated Bar of the Philippines] o sa Korte Suprema and tanong na kung may pananagutan ba itong mga abugado na to,” Ty said.
Same with Galicia who claimed to have personally seen Guo on August 14 when she supposedly sought notarial services for her documents seeking to dismiss her qualified human trafficking charges filed by the DOJ.
On August 19, Sen. Risa Hontiveros made a manifestation that Guo had already left the country on July 18.
However in the Senate Justice subcommittee hearing last Tuesday, Galicia changed gears and said Guo did not personally swear before him in his office in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan – an admission that warranted a reprimand from Hontiveros.
He said he could have been mistaken if it were indeed Guo but the woman, who remained in her car throughout the transaction said her name was Alice.
Galicia could face perjury or lose his license if proven guilty according to National Bureau of Investigation Director Jaime Santiago.
