As to the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Mayor Alice Guo of Bamban, Tarlac, is eligible to run in the May 2025 elections even if she is suspended from her current post.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia made it clear that a municipal official is not disqualified from seeking public office unless a court renders a final conviction.
“A suspension by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) does not prevent Guo from submitting a certificate of candidacy (COC),” Garcia stated.
He emphasized, “A suspension is not a final conviction or judgment in a case. Until then, the official remains eligible to run.”
In order to avoid averting any future legal measures, Garcia went on to say that they are not talking about any other cases that could be brought against Guo.
Comelec must accept Guo’s Certificate of Certification if she chooses to file if the suspension order is only from the DILG.
Garcia stated that there is still a legal dispute over whether the DILG ban applies just to her present term.
“We haven’t addressed that issue yet because she has the right to defend herself. We will deal with it when necessary,” Garcia said.
Because of her suspected involvement in illicit POGO operations in Bamban town, the Office of the Ombudsman received a recommendation from the DILG to suspend Guo.
