DOJ files qualified trafficking raps vs. Guo, others before Pasig RTC

MANILA – Non-bailable criminal charges for qualified trafficking have been filed before the Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) against dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo and 13 others, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Wednesday.

"The DOJ would like to confirm that the case against Alice Guo, including Dennis Cunanan, with the former TLRC (Technology and Livelihood Resource Center) deputy director general and representative of the Zun Yuan Technology, as well as 12 executives and founders of three companies and Guo's alleged business partners, has been filed in the RTC of Pasig City," DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano told reporters.

Clavano explained that they filed the case before the Pasig RTC following a Supreme Court ruling granting the DOJ's request for the transfer of venue of cases involving Guo.

"Initially, ipa-file na sana dahil ang jurisdiction po talaga ng kaso dahil dun naganap yung krimen ay nasa Capas, Tarlac. However, dahil sa nilabas na administrative circular ng SC na ilipat sa (Initially, we were going to file it before the Capas court because the crime happened there. However, the SC released an administrative circular to transfer the case to the) Pasig City RTC. All relevant and relative cases to those filed are also going to be filed now in Pasig City," he said.

Clavano said they are still monitoring developments in the Senate for any additional charges that may be filed against Guo.

"The court will have to make their own judicial determination of probable cause and kung mahanap nila ang (and if they find) probable cause, mag-iissue na po sila ng isang (they will issue a) warrant of arrest," he said.

"Now yung mga cases po na ito ay (these cases are) non-bailable, which is why as soon as the warrants of arrest are out from the Pasig trial court, then we can expect to take custody of Ms. Alice Guo despite or if ever she is released already from Senate and if ever, she does decide na mag-bail siya sa sa isang kaso niya (to post bail in one of her cases in) Capas, Tarlac."

Meanwhile, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission spokesperson Dr. Winston Casio said his office is looking forward to the arrest warrant to be issued by the Pasig RTC against Guo and her co-accused.

"We just have to wait for the raffle kaninong specific branch sa Pasig didinggin yon at syempre ang pinakahihintay ng lahat ang paglabas ng (what specific branch in Pasig will the case be heard, and of course, what everybody is waiting for, the issuance of a) warrant of arrest," Casio said. (PNA)