Senate Majority Leader Francis “Tol” Tolentino
MANILA, Philippines — Senate Majority Leader Francis “Tol” Tolentino has lauded a lower court’s decision to transfer the cases filed against dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo from the Tarlac Regional Trial Court (RTC) to the Valenzuela City RTC to rectify the error in the jurisdiction that he pointed out in the Senate committee hearing last Tuesday.
“If you remember, on Tuesday, I said that RTC in Capas, Tarlac, has no jurisdiction over the cases of Alice Guo. The supposed arraignment of Alice Guo later this afternoon [Sept. 13] in Capas, Tarlac, was already canceled by the Tarlac RTC and conformed with my position that they do not have the jurisdiction. What will happen now is that the cases against Alice Guo are transferred to the right RTC,” Tolentino said.
During the hearing of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality with the committees on migrant workers, and public order and dangerous drugs, Tolentino manifested that the Tarlac RTC had no jurisdiction over the graft charges against Guo.
Tolentino cited Republic Act 10660, which restructured the Sandiganbayan and included provisions that require cases to be tried in the judicial region other than where the official held office to prevent undue influence.
The lawmaker noted that the Capas RTC is in the same judicial region as Bamban, which could potentially affect the impartiality of the trial.
Therefore, the case should be moved to Valenzuela City, which is outside the region and aligns with the legal requirements.
Embroiled in the Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hubs’ operation in Bamban, Tarlac, which the Senate is investigating, Guo faces graft charges under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act 3019).
Tolentino explained that the cases must be filed in the right RTC in Valenzuela City, Metro Manila, where the folders and records were transferred because Guo’s cases will be prosecuted there.
Tolentino thanked Judge Sara De Los Santos of the RTC Branch 109 in Capas, Tarlac, for transferring Gou’s cases to the RTC in Valenzuela City.