Comelec gives Guo another day to submit counter-affidavit

MANILA, Philippines — Due to bad weather that prompted the suspension of work in government offices yesterday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gave dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo another day to submit her counter-affidavit on the charges of misrepresentation filed against her by the poll body.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia also made it clear there will be no more extension of the deadline for Guo’s submission of her counter-affidavit, and that her failure to meet today’s deadline would leave the poll body with no choice but to proceed with case resolution.

“Our Law Department will have to proceed. It’s sad if this case gets decided on without us getting comment from the respondent,” he said. “That’s why we extended the filing period to giver her the chance to give intelligent response to the complaint.”

The complaint, which is criminal in nature, is punishable by imprisonment of one to six years as well as perpetual disqualification from holding public office, Garcia said.

He stressed that Guo – through her lawyers – may submit a sworn and signed counter-affidavit even if she is abroad. Guo has been found to be a Chinese national named Guo Hua Ping. She left the country in July after the Senate ordered her arrest for snubbing hearings by the chamber on illegal activities of Philippine offshore gaming operators in the country. Based on reports, she is now in Indonesia.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, called on authorities to enforce President Marcos’ directive for a total ban on POGOs.

“Unfortunately, despite the President’s statements in his SONA, the underground operations of POGOs continue, so I am calling on our law enforcement agencies to step up to implement the President’s total ban,” she said.

Hontiveros, who has been leading the Senate investigation on POGO-related criminal activities, said she and other senators are working hard to ensure a total ban on online gaming.

“That’s why we are working hard in our hearings in the Senate to find an effective solution so that the POGOs in the Philippines can be completely shut down,” she said.

She said there were reports that some POGOs have resorted to “rebranding” or have evolved into “call centers” so they could operate inside special economic zones. “This and other other hocus pocus should not be allowed,” the senator said.

Hontiveros was supposed to preside over a joint public hearing yesterday by the Senate committees on justice and human rights (subcommittee) and on women, children, family relations and gender equality; and on public services on the escape of Guo. Inclement weather prompted the suspension of work in the Senate.

She said the Senate hearings have strongly established that these POGOs were run by organized and syndicated criminal groups in cahoots with some public officials. “That’s why we are also determined to hold accountable the officials who allowed and continue to operate them,” she added.

“We will also add to the law how to strengthen coordination with our law enforcement and regulatory agencies, in collaboration with the LGU, so that POGO will disappear completely and they will be held accountable,” she pointed out. — Cecille Suerte Felipe