MANILA, Philippines — Suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo has not gone to their farm in Tarlac for several weeks now, at least according to a helper in the area, said the Senate’s Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA).
In a letter dated July 4, OSAA’s Retired Lt. Gen.Roberto Ancan notified Sen. Risa Hontiveros’ office that the subpoena ad testificandum addressed to the local chief executive as well as her siblings Sheila Leal Guo, Wesley Leal Guo, and her father Jian Zhang Guo were not served at the address Brgy. Virgen de los Remedios, Bamban, Tarlac.
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“According to Mr. Jerry Baltazar Castro, a helper in the farm, Mayor Guo has not gone to the farm for several weeks now and he has no idea of her whereabouts,” Ancan’s letter reads.
“Furthermore, he does not know siblings Sheila, Wesley, and Jian – hence, he refused to receive the subpoena,” it adds.
Despite this, Ancan said their servers still tried to serve the subpoenas by giving copies of it to Castro in case the Guos visit the farm.
Ancan said their servers also proceeded to Bamban Municipal Hall in an attempt to have the subpoenas delivered.
“Unfortunately, a certain Ms. Apple Dizon, personal secretary to the Mayor, refused to receive the subpoena addressed to the mayor and her three siblings, including the letter of invitation addressed to Mr. Seimen leal Guo and Ms. Wen Yi Lin. Our servers again gave copies of the subpoenas and letter of invitation to the mayor’s office,” he said.
Despite this, Guo’s legal counsel — Atty. Nicole Jamilla — confirmed to have received the subpoena issued by the Senate panel on July 5.
However, in a separate letter to Hontiveros’ office, David and Jamilla Law Offices clarified that as much as they want to comply with the processes of the Senate, they do not represent Jian Zhong Guo, Sheila Leal Guo, Wesley Guo, Seimen Leal Guo, and Wenyi Lin.
“As previously communicated through email, we would like to clarify and make it of record that our law firm only represents Mayor Alice Leal Guo, and her alone,” they said.
Apart from the successful serving of a subpoena to the suspended local chief, OSAA said Nancy Gamo also received the order issued by the Senate panel.
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