MANILA, Philippines — (UPDATE) The Senate ordered the arrest of suspended Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping, following her refusal to appear before its committee hearings.
Aside from Guo, arrest orders were also issued against her siblings Sheila Leal Guo and Wesley Leal Guo; alleged parents Siemen Guo, Wen Yi Lin and Jian Zhong Guo; Dennis Cunanan, and Nancy Gamo.
Retired Lt. Gen. Roberto Ancan, Senate sergeant-at-arms, oversaw the deployment on Saturday of four teams to serve arrest orders. Each team was assigned specific individuals to apprehend, as their addresses varied.
The Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) was given 24 hours to serve the orders and was instructed to apprehend and detain these individuals until they appear as witnesses in a Senate hearing by the committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality to address the contempt charges.
In a document made public on Saturday, Guo is charged with alleged human trafficking, serious illegal detention, and physical abuse and torture in the premises of a Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) internet gaming licensee, among others.
The document cited Guo in contempt and the Senate formally ordered her arrest, after a motion from Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and ordered by Sen. Risa Hontiveros and approved by Senate President Francis Escudero.
Meanwhile, 15 others related to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in Bamban, Tarlac, and Porac, Pampanga, were issued subpoenas to appear before the Senate hearing on July 29, or face penalties if they fail to comply.
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