THE House of Representatives Quad Committee (Quadcom) on Thursday night cited dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo in contempt over her evasive answers.
Abang Lingkod Party-list Representative Stephen Paduano motioned to cite Guo in contempt when she violated Section 11 Paragraph C of the House rules procedure governing inquiries in aid of legislation.
Quad Com overall chair, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers quickly approved the motion when no objections were made.
Paduano followed this with a second motion calling for Guo’s detention until the committee report on the investigation was adopted in the plenary.
The committee approved both motions.
Paduano, however, said the question of jurisdiction will still have to be discussed after the hearing since Guo is now in the custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center.
Paduano claimed that Guo deliberately avoided bailing out to remain detained at the PNP Custodial Center.
He pointed out how Guo, who allegedly has billions of pesos in assets, could not afford to post a PHP180,000 bail.
“Again you are lying. Because the real reason why you didn’t bail out is because you want to be detained doon sa (at the) PNP Custodial Center,” Paduano said.
Antipolo 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop called out Guo for making a “mockery” of the Filipino people for repeatedly invoking her right against self-incrimination.
Acop pointed out that Guo had previously answered questions about her travel to Malaysia without invoking her right against self-incrimination.
“Tinanong po kayo kanina kung nagpunta kayong Malaysia, sinagot po ninyo, hindi po ba? Bakit hindi kayo nag-invoke ng inyong right against self-incrimination?,” Acop asked.
Guo replied that she now intended to invoke her right, adding that she now has a better understanding of her legal protections.
