TARLAC — Government lawyers, led by Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, filed a petition on Friday with the Tarlac Regional Trial Court to cancel the birth certificate of suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, citing non-compliance with legal registration requirements.
According to Philippines News Agency, the move to cancel Guo's birth certificate arises from her failure to meet the legal standards for late registration of birth, highlighting "glaring inconsistencies" between her birth certificate entries and other public records. This step is seen as foundational for a forthcoming quo warranto petition, which will challenge Guo's eligibility to hold public office based on alleged foreign citizenship.
The Solicitor General explained that while the cancellation of the birth certificate and the quo warranto are separate legal actions, they are complementary. The cancellation could undermine Guo's primary defense regarding her identity, potentially affecting the outcome of the quo warranto case. Additionally, Guevarra pointed out potential administrative liabilities for the local civil registrar involved in the late registration process.
In parallel legal developments, Guo did not attend a scheduled preliminary investigation by the Department of Justice concerning charges of qualified trafficking. Her legal team requested additional time to respond to the charges, asserting the insufficiency of the existing evidence.
The next court hearing is scheduled for July 22.