Lawyer Stephen David seeks to challenge the authenticity of the school records obtained by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian disproving that suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo was homeschooled in a farm but rather strongly suggesting she was enrolled in a school in Quezon City during her elementary years.
In an interview on ANC’s “Headstart,” David stressed that their camp will not accept such documents right away without due process of vetting.
“Hindi naman basta basta binigyan mo ko ng dokumento paniniwalaan ko ‘yan,” he said.
“Kasi ako curious din ako sa tagal na nitong senate investigation na ‘to ba’t wala man lang ni isa nagsabi kaklase ko ‘yan, magkasama kami niyan doon, wala ba siyang naging kaklase doon kung totoong nag-aral siya diyan,” he said.”
David said Guo still maintains her earlier claim that she was homeschooled in her farm in Bamban and that the integrity of the records are yet to be proven because it has not stood the test in court.
“Eh kami naman, ganito naman ang aming position so pagdating ng ganyang sitwasyon magkakaalaman tayo pagdating sa husgado ano ba talaga ang totoo kasi at the end of the day lalabas naman talaga ang katotohanan pero kasi sa ngayon mahirap mag-comment sa isang dokumento na hindi ko naman nakikita, hindi naman natin na-e-examine,” he said.
Guo’s legal counsel said the presumption of innocence still remains on Guo since her guilt will only be established once truth beyond reasonable doubt is proven after the conduct of a due process.
Nonetheless, David pleads to authorities not to submit Guo to trial by publicity by presenting pieces of evidence out in public but rather in a proper court of law.
“Ang ipinapakiusap ko lang, ‘yung nagkakaron ng trial by publicity, tulad niyan naglalabas ka na naman ng ganyang ebidensya. Kung ang layunin mo eh ma-sway yung public na guilty na siya eh mali yun kasi meron naman tayong pamamaraan para patunayan mo na guilty yung tao hindi sa pamamagitan ng public trial,” he said.
Guo, other family members and a few associates have already been cited for contempt pending for an arrest warrant for snubbing yet again the hearing on illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators on Wednesday.
The embattled town chief said her health and mental health as reasons for her absence. She said she has been “traumatized” by the scrutiny she endured in the past hearings.
