Huwag sa pekeng Pilipino! Estrada says Alice Guo has no right to run for reelection

(POLITIKO) Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada has frowned on the idea of allowing dismissed mayor Alice Guo to seek reelection in Bamban, Tarlac as she faces serious charges of human trafficking.

The senator said Guo has no right to run for public office, which should be reserved for Filipinos only.

He accused Guo of faking her Philippine birth certificate to run for office and using her position to operate an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operation (POGO) in Tarlac.

“Karapatan ng kahit na sinong Filipino ang iprisinta ang sarili sa taumbayan para manilbihan bilang isang lingkod bayan,” Estrada said on Friday (Oct. 4).

“Ang pribilehiyong ito na nakasaad sa ating Konstitusyon ay para lamang sa ating mga kapwa at hindi kailanman maaaring ibigay sa mga pekeng Filipino,” he said.

“Bukod sa pagiging isang tunay at walang bahid na pagdududa sa pagiging Pilipino, responsibilidad ng bawat kandidato na magbigay ng tamang impormasyon sa kanilang sarili at sumunod sa mga alituntunin na pinag-uutos ng ating batas sa pagiging kandidato sa isang elective position at pagiging lingkod-bayan,” he added.

Estrada urged the Commission on Elections to ensure that there would be no more candidates with questionable backgrounds similar to Guo.

“Tungkulin din ng Commission on Elections na tiyakin na ang bawat kandidato ay sumusunod sa mga itinakdang pamantayan para masiguro na walang botanteng Filipino ang malilinlang sa kawalan ng kwalipikasyon ng kanilang mapipiling kandidato sa araw ng halalan,” Estrada said.

According to her lawyers, Guo will seek reelection and file her certificate of candidacy next week.

But the dismissed mayor will have to file through a representative. She is detained at Pasig city jail as she faces a nonbailable qualified human trafficking case in connection with the illegal Bamban offshore gaming hub.