Escudero rejects Guo apology, tells her to face Senate anew

Senate President Francis Escudero and suspended Mamban Mayor Alice Gu —Inquirer photos

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Francis Escudero on Tuesday dismissed the letter of apology submitted to the Upper Chamber by suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.

“Although I understand the understanding she was asking for, until she shows up and follows the Senate’s rules, I cannot accept any request she made in her letter—not only for understanding but also to help her constituents,” Escudero said in a press briefing.

He added that Guo did not indicate in her letter whether or not she would attend the next hearing being conducted by the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality chaired by Sen. Risa Hontiveros.

In a letter dated July 20, Guo apologized to Escudero over her statement that senators and other government offices should focus on issues in the country instead of being “fixated” on her.

“I would like to apologize if there has been any misunderstanding regarding my statements. I did not intend to dictate or instruct the Senate on what it should prioritize,” she said. “I understand that each lawmaker has their own duties and responsibilities to the country. My intention is simply to provide suggestions based on the problems being experienced by my fellow citizens in Bamban.”

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The embattled mayor also appealed to Escudero to help her constituents, saying her suspension has prevented her from fulfilling her duties as a mayor.

“I am requesting your help and understanding. I am hopeful that under your leadership, you will not neglect my fellow countrymen who are in need of government support,” she appealed to lawmakers.

But Escudero noted that the Bamban vice mayor has taken Guo’s place to continue the government’s work in the Tarlac town.

Guo also expressed her readiness to face all charges lodged against her in various offices of government, including the Office of the Ombudsman, the Department of Justice, and the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

But Escudero said Guo should face the Senate so the warrant of arrest against her could be lifted.

“I hope that her lawyer advises her properly to face and put an end to this chapter in the Senate so that she can focus and concentrate on the cases she is facing,” he said, adding that the Senate guarantees her safety if she decides to participate in the investigation.

Guo was cited for contempt and ordered arrested for twice refusing to appear in the continuing Senate hearings, where she had testified a few times earlier.

She said that she had been traumatized and appealed to the Supreme Court to stop Hontiveros and her committee from further questioning her, claiming her constitutional rights to due process and privacy were being violated.