Controversial figure Alice Guo said on Tuesday she is not pushing through with her re-election bid as Bamban, Tarlac mayor after much contemplation.
Guo made the statement during her appearance at the resumption of the Senate public hearing on espionage allegations against her in connection with the activities of the dismantled Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada confronted Guo with the question after learning about her reported plans to seek the mayoralty post again citing information from her legal counsel.
“Your honor, I would like to face the accusations against me first. I want to clear my name before anything else to be fair to my constituents that I love,” Guo told Estrada, who asked what made her change her mind.
Several lawmakers, including Estrada, aired strong opposition at the prospect of Guo’s re-election, especially after several Philippine government agencies established her Chinese identity as Guo Huaping.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) earlier said it would also have to disqualify Guo should she make another run for mayor of Bamban because of so many legal issues, primarily her questionable Filipino citizenship.