Senate Sergeant-at-Arms: Guo to share detention room with Shiela Guo

Picture of Alice Guo or Guo Hua Ping while in her detention in Indonesia at about 5:34 a.m. on September 4, 2024 (Courtesy of the PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE)

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) of the Senate is guaranteeing the safety of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo once she gets detained and taken into custody by the chamber.

Speaking to reporters in an ambush interview on Wednesday, OSAA’s Retired Lt. Gen. Roberto Ancan said they have yet to see any threats that would prompt them to increase their security arrangement.

He said Alice or Guo Hua Ping will most likely share the detention room with Shiela Guo who was earlier identified to be her sister.

“I assure their safety and kung kailangan akong magdagdag ako ng personnel to guard them 24/7, we will,” said Ancan.

Asked what factor they would consider to double the security guarding the two, Ancan said it would depend on the situation.

“Depende sa mga reports kung may threat talaga. But as of now, wala pa namang perceived threats,” he said.

Alice has an outstanding arrest order from the Senate for refusing to appear, despite due notices, in the committee on women’s hearing on July 10.

She has been the subject of scrutiny after the Senate panel on women bared her ties to illegal pogo firm Zun Yuan Technology Inc. in Bamban, Tarlac.

Questions about her citizenship were also raised, leading to allegations that she is a Chinese spy — which she vehemently denied.

READ: Arrest Alice Guo, others – Senate

The dismissed Bamban mayor was arrested in Tangerang City, Jakarta, Indonesia at 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, according to the National Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice, citing information from Senior Superintendent Audie Latuheru of the Indonesian Police.

After being repatriated back to the Philippines, Ancan said Alice will be processed by the Bureau of Immigration, transferred to the National Bureau of Investigation, then turned over to the Senate, similar to what was done to Shiela.