The entire membership of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) approved initiating an automatic complaint against suspended Bamban Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo for significant falsehoods in her 2022 election Candidate's Certificate of Candidacy (COC). This decision followed a comprehensive factual investigation by the Comelec legal department, which raised serious doubts about Guo's real identity and qualifications for public office.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia confirmed this decision, stating that preliminary investigations would soon commence. He was quoted in a GMANetwork article saying, "We will conduct a preliminary investigation on her. Thus, you can expect that the investigation procedures will begin, and the respondent will have the opportunity to respond to the allegations and accusations."
The core of the complaint is the allegation that Alice Guo, as Mayor of Bamban, may have provided false information in her candidate certificate, potentially violating sections 74 and 262 of the Omnibus Election Code, which require candidates to use their genuine names unless legally changed.
However, the investigation revealed inconsistencies in the details provided by Guo. Her real name is revealed to be Huaping Guo, possibly born in Fujian, China, in 1990, in stark contrast to her claims of being a native Filipino born in Tarlac in 1986.
The Comelec fact-finding committee, led by Director Maria Norina Tangaro-Casingal, found sufficient reason to proceed with a preliminary investigation. The committee's report noted that Guo's declarations in her candidacy certificate posed "serious doubts and appear intentionally deceptive to voters."
This conclusion was supported by evidence from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Comelec's Election Records and Statistics Department (ERSD). NBI's findings showed that Guo's fingerprints matched those on NBI Foreign Form No. 5, associated with her identity as Huaping Guo. Moreover, a thorough examination of her signatures across various documents confirmed they were written by the same person.
Given the gravity of the allegations, Garcia emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability. He also noted that the Comelec's legal department might also issue a summons to the controversial mayor. He revealed, "If the legal department issues a summons, the respondent will be brought to court to prove her innocence."
He pointed out that while Guo has the right to remain silent, responding to the allegations to clear her name is in her best interest. He warned that the Comelec could not wait any longer, especially since this is a criminal case, which indicates the urgency of resolving the matter."
He warned that the impact of the case extends beyond Guo herself. Garcia sternly advised other candidates considering distorting information in future elections.
"If you try to do the same thing, you might not only be disqualified or your candidacy canceled, but we will still pursue you—even if you win, you will still face legal proceedings and criminal charges."
