GUO IN 2025 POLLS?
THE Bureau of Jail Management and Penology said it will abide with the guidance of the Commission on Elections and the court on what to do in case dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo decides to participate in the midterm elections.
According to BJMP spokesperson Supt. Jayrex Bustinera, the bureau is now in close coordination with the poll body with regards to the courses of action should Guo, who is now under its care, opted to run for an electoral post in May next year.
“Ongoing ang coordinatin namin sa Comelec, basta ang guidance ay ang Comelec, basta pag papayagan ng Comelec ang pag-file nya, at may court para sya ay mag-file, susunod lang kami,” he told reporters in a press conference at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) yesterday.
The Comelec, in a television interview, said it cannot prevent Guo from running since her cases are still pending and have yet to be resolved.
Bustinera said all the bureau can do is to provide Guo escorts and ensure her safety if she is allowed by the Comelec and the court to file her certificate of candidacy (COC).
“Sana as much as possible kung pwede lang representative na lang para di na sya lalabas ng kulungan,” he said.
The dismissed Bamban mayor is presently detained at the Pasig City Jail Female Dorm with 43 other PDLs.
Citing previous experiences, Bustinera said the Comelec allowed PDLs to participate in an elections.
During the 2023 barangay elections there were dozens of detainees who ran and six of them even got elected as kagawads.
“Sa experience namin, pinapayagan ang nakakulong, but for… specific kay Alice Guo,we are coordinating with the Comelec. . . same pa rin ba? Papayagan ba nila,” Bustinera said.
In some cases where PDLs are given the green light to run, the BJMP official said the bureau will always comply but detainee-bets cannot campaign like usual candidates do.
“Mga kamag-anak nila ang nangampanyan dito sa kulungan, pwede sila proxy campaigning, bawal (personal) na mangampanya, even social media bawal, bahala na sila kung paano,” Bustinera said.
He said it has been the strict order of BJMP chief Director Ruel Rivera to all regional directors down to the wardens to always be politically neutral.
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