The two graft charges filed against dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo—also known as Guo Hua Ping—were transferred Friday from the Capas Regional Trial Court (RTC) to the Valenzuela RTC, Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino confirmed.
The Valenzuela RTC Clerk of Court received the case files at 8:10 a.m., officially transferring the jurisdiction from Capas RTC Branch 109, which was questioned.
Lawyer Gemma Perino, the Clerk of Court in Valenzuela, stated that the cases will be raffled next Thursday to determine which court will handle the proceedings.
Until a court is assigned to hear the cases, the Senate panel led by Senator Risa Hontiveros plans to request her appearance in an ongoing Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) investigation through the RTC Executive Judge.
Tolentino previously argued that the Capas RTC lacked jurisdiction over Guo’s graft cases, expressing concern that despite her dismissal as mayor, Guo might still exert undue influence on the outcome.
“The mere fact of dismissal does not immediately remove the concept of undue influence,” Tolentino said, citing communication with Capas RTC Judge Sarah Delos Santos.
The judge earlier scheduled Guo’s arraignment and pre-trial on September 13, but later postponed it. Tolentino emphasized that the Senate’s warrant of arrest against Guo remains valid.
Meanwhile, lawyer and Supreme Court spokesperson Camille Ting clarified that the transfer of Guo’s case was in accordance with a circular from the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA).
In a statement, Ting noted the transfer was made pursuant to OCA Circular No. 10-2024, which stipulates that cases involving local officials should be moved to the nearest RTC outside the official’s jurisdiction, per Republic Act 10660, amending the Sandiganbayan rules.
“In this case, the nearest RTC of the nearest judicial region from Capas is in Valenzuela,” Ting said.
