THE Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) confirmed on Monday that the arraignment of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo for her graft case in a Valenzuela City court has been postponed anew.
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) spokesperson, Jail Superintendent Jayrex Bustinera said the hearing was reset to October 28th in the afternoon.
Bustinera was unable to provide a reason for the postponement, stating that only a notice of the schedule was relayed to the BJMP.
This postponement follows a previous one on September 20, 2023, when Guo’s arraignment did not proceed due to a pending motion to quash the information filed against her.
Guo had earlier posted bail of P540,000 at the Valenzuela City Regional Trial Court Branch 282 for charges involving violations of Section 3(e) and 3(h) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
These charges stem from a complaint filed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) regarding Guo’s alleged involvement in a raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Bamban.
In addition to the graft charges, Guo is also facing charges for qualified human trafficking, money laundering, and tax evasion.
She is currently detained at the Pasig City Jail.
The continued postponements of Guo’s arraignment highlight the complexity of the legal proceedings against her.
The pending motion to quash the information filed against her suggests that her legal team is seeking to challenge the validity of the charges.
The outcome of this motion will have a significant impact on the future of the case.
