Senate panel summons Alice Guo’s predecessor in Bamban

FILE PHOTO: Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, whose real name is Guo Hua Ping, during a public hearing conducted by the Committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality on the alleged illegal activities of Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) in Pampanga and Tarlac on September 17, 2024. – On Tuesday, September 24, 2024, the Senate panel on women ordered the issuance of a subpoena against Guo’s predecessor, ex-Bamban mayor Jose Antonio Feliciano, for failing to heed the chamber’s previous invitation for him to attend its proceedings. INQUIRER / RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate panel on women ordered the issuance of a subpoena against Alice Guo’s predecessor, ex-Bamban mayor Jose Antonio Feliciano, for failing to heed the chamber’s previous invitation for him to attend its proceedings.

During the panel’s 14th hearing on Guo’s alleged ties to Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo) on Tuesday, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada made the motion to subpoena Feliciano.

“According to our committee secretary, Mayor Feliciano declined [the] invitation because of a prior commitment, and I think that is totally unacceptable to me and the committee,” said Estrada.

“I move that we issue a subpoena and if he does not honor the subpoena, [let us] issue a warrant of arrest right away,” he added.

Feliciano was the mayor of Bamban town in Tarlac before Guo. He had publicly endorsed Guo’s candidacy in 2022.

READ: Senators confront Alice Guo for lying in Pogo probe

Panel head Sen. Risa Hontiveros immediately seconded Estrada’s motion, noting that resource persons should not neglect the invitation of the chamber.

“Hindi po talaga pwede na medical excuse na hindi naman urgent, no? So I address this to those already mentioned na nagsa-cite ng medical reasons,” said Hontiveros.

(We cannot use medical excuses that are not urgent. So I address this to those already mentioned who cite medical reasons for skipping the probe.)

Earlier, Hontiveros bared that the panel’s 14th hearing on Guo’s Pogo ties will be the last on record, but she noted on Tuesday that another hearing may be conducted if many resource persons fail to heed the chamber’s invitation due to “medical reasons.”