Only the courts can stop dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo from seeking to regain her previous post in the 2025 mid-term elections, her legal counsel Stephen David said on Saturday (October 5).

But while David insists that his client is not barred from running, sources from the Commission on Elections have revealed that petitions for Guo’s disqualification are being readied and will be filed as soon as the embattled former local chief executive files her certificate of candidacy.

David stressed there remains no legal reason that will prevent the Comelec from accepting Guo’s COC and declaring her a candidate in the 2025 mayoralty race in Bamban.

Guo pointed out she has not been convicted of qualified human trafficking and that claims that she is not a Filipino citizen remain mere accusations.

“Mahirap naman na i-disqualify dahil lang sa technicality. Paano kung siya talaga ang gusto ng tao ‘di ba?” stressed David.

“Bigyan naman natin ng pagkakataon iyong mga tao na ipakita ang suporta at pagmamahal sa kanya,” he added.

Notwithstanding the charges levelled against her, Guo appeared to still maintain her popularity among her constituents, it was gathered.

It is not immediately known whether or not she will be running under a party and will be accompanied in a political ticket by her allies.

Aside from facing charges of qualified human trafficking and falsifying citizenship documents, Guo has also been tagged as a Chinese spy and a mastermind in the activities of illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations in the country.