MANILA, Philippines — Atty. Elmer Galicia, the lawyer who claimed to have personally seen dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo last August 14, may face a perjury case and possible license suspension if it is proven that he lied about meeting Guo.
This was said by National Bureau of Investigation Director Jaime Santiago in a joint press conference with Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco and Justice Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Mico Clavano on Friday.
READ: Guo personally had her affidavit notarized on Aug. 14, says lawyer
“Ang ethics namin at ang rule, kapag magpapanotaryo ka, you must personally appear before me if I am the notary public,” said Santiago.
(Our ethics and the rule state that if you need to have something notarized, you must personally appear before me if I were the notary public.)
“Well, pe-pwede sigurong papasok sa perjury. But administratively, bilang abogado siya, it may cause his license or suspension kung mapatunayan na nagsisinungaling siya,” he said, when asked what sanctions Galicia may face if proven lying.
(Well, it could potentially involve perjury, but administratively, as a lawyer, it may lead to the suspension of his license if it is proven that he is lying.)
Galicia was the lawyer who notarized Guo’s counter-affidavit seeking the dismissal of her qualified human trafficking complaint.
His notarization of Guo’s counter-affidavit last August 14 is being scrutinized as the Bureau of Immigration revealed that the former mayor “illegally traveled to Malaysia as early as July.”
READ: ‘Probe ongoing’: NBI can’t confirm or deny if Alice Guo left PH
“Hindi pa natin alam kung sino nagsasabi ng totoo. Kung nagsasabi ba si Atty. Galicia ng totoo na [noong August] 14 nandito pa si Alice, hindi pa natin maconfirm or deny,” Santiago said.
(We don’t yet know who is telling the truth. Whether Atty. Galicia is telling the truth about Alice still being here on August 14, we cannot confirm or deny it at this point.)