The Office of the Philippines’ Senate Sergeant at Arms (OSAA) deployed four teams to execute arrest warrants for suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo and seven others.
This action follows the Senate panel’s announcement of the arrest order earlier this month.
The reason for their arrest is contempt, stemming from their repeated disregard of inquiries into illegal activities involving Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
OSAA’s head, retired Philippine Army Lt. Gen. Roberto Ancan, directed the deployment of teams to execute the arrest orders for Alice Guo, Sheila Leal Guo, Wesley Leal Guo, Jian Zhong Guo, Seimen Guo, Wen Yi Lin (suspected mother), Dennis Cunanan, and Nancy Gamo.
Most of suspects are family members of Alice Guo, including her siblings and parents.
The OSAA was tasked with serving the arrest orders within 24 hours and detaining the eight individuals at its office until they appear and testify before the Senate committee investigating POGOs, or until they are cleared of contempt charges.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, chair of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, also mandated the eight to appear before her committee on July 29th.
Guo’s legal team has asked the Supreme Court to cancel the earlier subpoena issued by the Senate committee, chaired by Hontiveros, against Guo and her family members.
Meanwhile, Stephen David, Guo’s lawyer, stated that the Mayor would surrender once her mental state improves.
