PAOCC questions Bamban mayor's counter-affidavit validity

A lawyer who notarized a counter-affidavit for Alice Guo, the dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor, insisted on Tuesday that she personally appeared before him on August 14.

However, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) filed an opposition with the Department of Justice (DOJ), expressing doubt over Guo's presence in the country since July 18 and questioning the validity of her counter-affidavit.

The PAOCC argued that granting admission to Guo's counter-affidavit would not serve justice or due process, given reports from the Bureau of Immigration that she had illegally traveled to Malaysia as early as July and is currently in Indonesia.

PAOCC spokesperson Dr. Winston Casio stressed during a briefing on August 20 that submitting a counter-affidavit requires physical appearance before a notary public, which is questionable given Guo's travel history.

The PAOCC further noted that Guo was absent when her counter-affidavit for the human trafficking complaint was submitted to the DOJ and did not personally appear before any panel members.