MANILA – Dismissed Bamban City, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo has pleaded not guilty to graft charges filed before a Valenzuela City Regional Trial Court (RTC).
Guo pleaded not guilty to the violation of Republic Act 3019 through a videoconference, according to Valenzuela Regional Branch 285 clerk of court Atty. Pascual Lacas Jr.
“Alice Guo pleaded not guilty to both cases filed against her… those cases are in connection with Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,” Lacas told the media.
“She was asked if she understands English well. She was also asked if it would be read in Tagalog but she prefers it to be read in English so it was read in English. So she pleaded in both cases as not guilty,” he added.
Lacap also said that Guo’s presence will no longer be required in the next hearing on November 22 after she waived her right to be present in the presentation
Guo posted bail in the amount of P540,000 before the court last September but she remains detained at the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory for a qualified human trafficking case.
A quo warranto petition was also filed against Guo with a Manila court as well as a petition to cancel her birth certificate before a Tarlac court.
She is also facing a tax evasion complaint as well as 87 counts for money laundering before the Justice Department./PN
