MANILA, Philippines — The Senate's Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) will protect suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo and her family as soon as they are arrested and detained at the Senate.
The Senate readied the detention room where Guo and seven others would be held.
The Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality on July 10 cited in contempt and ordered the arrest of Guo or Guo Hua Ping and seven others for repeatedly snubbing the inquiry on the alleged illegal activities of some Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) such as human trafficking, torture, and online scams.
Guo said she could not attend the inquiry due to physical and mental health problems. Guo also feared for her life as she claimed that she received death threats regularly.
Senate Sergeant-at Arms retired general Roberto Ancan on Tuesday showed the detention room where Guo and her family would be detained.
Ancan said the detention room, located near the open basketball court inside the Senate compound in Pasay City, could house eight people and was fully air-conditioned.
"This [room] was the former day care center and we decided to prepare this for them because they are a family and could be together," Ancan said.
"We will protect them. I have done this before," Ancan said. He said the OSAA could also call for the assistance of the Philippine National Police posted in the Senate, if needed.
Also cited in contempt were the mayor's father Jian Zhong Guo; her mother Wenyi Lin; her siblings Seimen Leal Guo, Shiela Guo, and Wesley Leal Guo; POGO incorporator Nancy Gamo, and Dennis Cunanan, former Technology and Livelihood Resource Center deputy director general.
Gamo, Guo's former accountant, was arrested on Saturday and placed in a room at the basement of the Senate building.