Following the pronouncement of Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra that Alice Guo may still file her certificate of candidacy (CoC) and run for an elected position despite an earlier Ombudsman order disqualifying her from holding a public post, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) dampened Guo’s chances as it disclosed that the dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor would still need a court order in order to be able to run for public office and personally file her candidacy.

According to BJMP spokesman Jail Superintendent Jayrex Bustinera, Guo, who is detained at the Pasig City Jail’s female dormitory, needs to secure an order from court authorities before she would be allowed to leave the facility to file her CoC with the Comelec.

Bustinera clarified that from past experiences where jailed individuals like former Zamboanga del Norte District I representative Romeo Jalosjos were allowed to run in previous elections, detained aspirants can run for election as long as their cases have not been decided with finality.

However, the jail official opined that instead of seeking a court order to allow her to temporarily get out of prison, it would be better for Guo to simply designate an official representative to file her CoC since the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will allows this.

Yesterday, Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 167 Executive Judge Annielyn Medes-Cabelis allowed the former mayor to attend the continuation of the Senate investigation into illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and related crimes on Tuesday, October 8.

The temporary leave from imprisonment issued by the court was granted on the request of the Senate committee on women, children and family affairs chaired by lady senator Ana Theresia ‘Risa’ Hontiveros-Baraquel to allow Guo’s presence in the hearing.