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Senate detention facility ready
By Nidz Godino
“Here I can assure her security 24/7… I’ve done it before… I was commander before, and I assured people within my area of responsibility that they are safe,” Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) head Roberto Ancan, retired Army officer said dormitory-type detention facility for suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, her mother and female siblings in Senate compound is now ready.
Ancan inspected room has three bunk beds where Guo and her family would be detained if Senate sergeant-at-arms succeeds in serving its arrest order on suspended mayor and her companions.
OSAA will primarily be in charge of their safety, but Philippine National Police may be tapped for assistance.
Ancan assured resource persons of their safety, especially of Guo, whose detention facility is beside PNP detachment. He noted that there will be medical team ready for their needs as well.
Apart from Guo, Senate has also ordered arrest of Siemen Guo, Wesley Guo, Sheila Guo, her alleged mother Wen Yi Lin and Dennis Cunanan after they failed to appear before Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality chaired by Sen. Risa Hontiveros.
OSAA chief said structure was formerly air-conditioned daycare center, where there is water dispenser and table.
Ancan noted that only female relatives of Guo would be allowed to stay with her. He noted that male resource persons would be detained in separate room, while Guo’s former accountant, Nancy Gamo, will also stay in different room.
Detention facility was specifically converted last year from being daycare center in the event Senate needs to detain more people. Guo and her family will be first to use the facility in case they surface. There are also detention facilities in Senate basement.
Ancan said facilities would be comfortable and Senate will provide detainees with food three times a day, although they can also bring their own food.
Visiting hours would be from 8 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon.
Guo and the others would be allowed to go outside of detention facility for few minutes in the morning for sunlight.
At present, Senate guidelines for individuals under Senate custody do not allow detainees to use gadgets. However, Senate President Francis Escudero earlier said they would revisit such guidelines.
Escudero visited Nancy Gamo, alleged accountant of Guo, who has been detained in Senate since her arrest last Saturday. He was accompanied by staff of Hontiveros.
While Gamo’s health condition was good, she reportedly complained of boredom as she was not allowed to use cell phones. But she is allowed to request for cell phone if she needs to make call.
Escudero said there is need to review rules of Senate prohibit use of cell phones by detainees as they are not prisoners.
With Guo’s whereabouts still unknown, Supreme Court (SC) has asked Hontiveros’ panel to comment on petition of Guo seeking to stop senators from summoning her as resource person in the probe on POGOs.
According to SC spokesperson Camille Sue Mae Ting, SC gave committee 10 days from notice to file its comment.
Guo earlier filed before SC petition for certiorari, with prayer for annulment of subpoena and temporary restraining order against her being required to appear as resource person in Senate.
In her 78-page petition for certiorari, Guo asked High Court to annul subpoena issued by Senate panel.
She argued Senate committee committed grave abuse of discretion, amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction, when it subjected her to “public persecution and humiliation, disregarding her Constitutional rights.”
Mayor’s right to presumption of innocence and due process were likewise violated as she was already branded, called and concluded to be “liar,” “spy” and “POGO operator,” petition claimed, citing opening remarks of Hontiveros in one of the hearings.
Petition also pointed out hearings focused on Guo’s personal life, which are “totally unrelated, unconnected and unassociated with pending resolutions subject of public hearing.”
“As a result, she was asked and forced to divulge matters of her private life, childhood, love life and personal businesses to public under pain of contempt,” it read.
Guo’s lawyer Stephen David previously said Senate hearings have left mayor “traumatized.”
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