LAWMAKERS have welcomed the plan of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to file a quo warranto case against Mayor Alice Guo of Bamban town in Tarlac province, calling it a necessary step to uphold the integrity of public office.
During Thursday’s regular press conference at the House of Representatives, Reps. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. (Manila, 6th District) and Zia Alonto Adiong (Lanao del Sur, 1st District) said it is imperative to ensure that public servants fulfill all requirements for holding public office.
“Alam mo malaking garapalan na ito eh. Itong Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, [base] sa kanyang mga sagot, tignan natin kung talagang Pilipino ito… Hindi sya dapat maging mayor kung hindi mapatunayang Pilipino sya. Dapat lamang na tanggalin na ito bilang mayor,” Abante said.
Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra has confirmed that his office is currently gathering relevant information on Guo’s case, potentially leading to the filing of a quo warranto against her.
Guo is under investigation in the Senate for her alleged involvement in an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation (POGO) hub, alongside questions surrounding her identity as a Filipino citizen.
Senators have raised doubts regarding Guo’s citizenship status, pointing out the absence of official records to substantiate her claim as a Filipino citizen. Some have even questioned whether Guo holds citizenship in China.
Abante underscored the importance of verifying Guo’s Filipino citizenship, citing concerns over potential foreign influence.
“Ang China hindi lamang gustong kontrolin ang West Philippine Sea, pati buong Pilipinas ko-kontrolin na eh, even our universities,” Abante said, referring to China’s aggressive actions in the disputed territory and the influx of Chinese students in Cagayan province and other parts of the Philippines.
In a similar vein, Adiong underscored the importance of preserving the integrity of electoral process and protecting the rights of natural-born Filipinos.
“Nais lang ng OSG na maprotektahan iyong ating electoral processes na open lang ito sa natural-born Filipinos,” Adiong explained.
He cited the significance of ensuring that public officials meet the requirements set forth by the Constitution, particularly regarding citizenship.
“Sinabi po sa Saligang Batas ‘pag natural-born citizen ka ‘di ba isa iyon sa requirement kung paano ka mag-hold ng isang public office, especially if elective position?” he pointed out..
Moreover, Adiong raised concerns over Guo’s failure to provide the necessary documents to support her citizenship claim.
He emphasized the rigorous process involved in late registration of birth certificates and questioned Guo’s inability to recall details during the recent Senate hearings.
“Base po sa mga sagot niya during the committee hearings, hindi po niya matandaan,” he remarked.
At the same time, Adiong raised personal concerns regarding the citizenship acquisition process, particularly its apparent inconsistencies and inefficiencies.
Beyond the specifics of Guo’s case, Adiong called attention to broader issues within the citizenship acquisition process, urging a comprehensive review of local registry procedures.
He cited instances where individuals seemingly obtained citizenship with relative ease, emphasizing the need for stricter oversight to prevent abuses.
“Kailangan din natin makita ‘yun, just to ensure na unang-una hindi po tayo malusutan at mapadali ‘yung pagkukuha ng citizenship dito sa bansa na ito,” Adiong asserted.
“Kailangan din ho natin ma-review itong guidelines nila tsaka mga policy nila sa local registry papunta po ng PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority),” he added.
