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NewsTranscript
00:00The Senate Sergeant-at-Arms is continuing to look for the suspended Bantarlac Mayor, Alice Guo, and the other six cited in contempt because the Senate hearing was snubbed several times.
00:11We will look into that later.
00:13The lawyer of Mayor Guo is Attorney Stephen David. Good morning, Attorney. This is Maris and we are live on Unang Balita.
00:19Good morning, Maris. Good morning.
00:22First of all, is Mayor Guo going to attend the Senate hearing now that he has been ordered to be arrested?
00:29Well actually, that's what I've been advising him for a long time. I always remind him because there's a consequence.
00:34If you can't attend the hearing, he will be disqualified.
00:39The problem is, he always tells me about his physical and emotional conditions.
00:45He's so traumatized by the Senate hearings.
00:50Didn't he go to the doctor? Did he go to the doctor?
00:57Well, it's not just one day. The stress is getting worse. There are many new events that are detrimental to him, like you were issued a warrant,
01:14you were exposed to the public about your AMLA accounts.
01:20The stress level is not going down, but it's getting worse because of what you're doing to the public.
01:27So in other words, he's afraid to face the public?
01:30Most likely, that's my personal belief.
01:34The observations because of recent developments.
01:38He's more traumatized, he's more worried and scared.
01:45So in other words, he's not yet medically cleared to face a hearing like this Senate hearing?
01:54What you're saying about medical clearance, of course he will say he's a medical practitioner.
01:59But he's on his own.
02:01When you talk to her attorney?
02:03What she said is that she's really scared and traumatized by the Senate investigation.
02:10Her anxiety attack is getting worse.
02:14She has emotional problems because of the recent developments.
02:21I understand that you talked to her. Did she mention where she is? Do you know where she is?
02:29When was the last time you talked to her attorney?
02:32I talked to her yesterday, but I don't know where she is.
02:36But she's 100% in the Philippines. That's what she told me.
02:41You also mentioned earlier that you always tell her to face the Senate hearing.
02:49Especially now that the Supreme Court has not issued the TRO that you're asking for.
02:56You know, hiding is risky.
02:59It's a waste of life if you hide.
03:02The problem here is that if she appears in the Senate, she will just speak.
03:07If she's done questioning, there will be no arrest order and she can go home.
03:14The problem is, I'm just worried on the legal point of view.
03:22Because of the number of cases filed against her, criminal and civil,
03:28the right against self-incrimination is already affected.
03:34Because she will no longer be an effective resource person.
03:37Because I remember she was arrested not because she was an accused,
03:40but because she was a resource person who did not participate in the hearing.
03:43Go ahead, sir.
03:46What is her effectiveness if she cannot speak
03:52because she has a constitutional right against self-incrimination?
03:56That's what I'm worried about.
03:59So in other words, what you're saying now that she will no longer be an effective resource speaker
04:05because of what she's feeling, that she's really traumatized,
04:09it will outweigh the legal implications for not attending the Senate hearing?
04:14No. That's what I'm saying. She will not be effective because any question
04:18that may be asked about what she knows, her right against self-incrimination is affected.
04:25Because she has criminal cases in Ombudsman and DOJ.
04:29I don't know if there are others.
04:32But right now, that's what we're facing.
04:38So my point is, if you're going to speak,
04:42your right against self-incrimination, anything you say may be used against you in the court of law.
04:50So what can you ask her so that she will not be self-incriminated?
04:55That's it. How can she be an effective resource person with that kind of development?
05:02So that means you're also advising her not to attend.
05:06No. I can't advise her.
05:09Because you're advising her that whatever she says will be self-incriminating.
05:15No. I have to advise her on the effect of her words.
05:20That's a legal implication.
05:22Of course, that's why there's a lawyer.
05:24It's not like I'm advising her to violate the law.
05:28You give her a scenario and then you explain what can happen and what is the legal implication.
05:36Okay. I understand.
05:38But for me, my advice is to attend.
05:43Because if they ask you a question, you can always invoke your right against self-incrimination.
05:51I am not advising her not to attend.
05:54You can attend, but don't answer incriminating questions.
05:58That's what I'm saying.
06:00That's why I'm saying that she's not effective.
06:05Be a resource person.
06:07Because if she's there, she asked, she can always invoke her right against self-incrimination.
06:15How can she help the Senate committee to violate the law if that will be the outcome of her inquiry?
06:26That's what I'm saying.
06:28Right now, as we speak, Attorney,
06:30what will be the legal implications if she continues not to appear in the Senate hearing,
06:36aside from the order to arrest her?
06:38Well, they will look for her.
06:40If they find her, they will bring her to the Senate and ask her.
06:45The problem is, if they will ask her,
06:47because this is like the previous Senate investigations.
06:55After their Senate term,
07:05there will be nothing.
07:07They will call her.
07:09After their Senate term,
07:11after their investigation,
07:13there will be nothing.
07:15Attorney, once and for all,
07:17is Mayor Goh still here in the Philippines?
07:19Of course.
07:21Of course.
07:23Why wouldn't I believe her?
07:25She's a 100 percent assurance.
07:27She told me,
07:29how can she go out of the Philippines?
07:32She has a lookout order
07:34and our airports are tight.
07:36I don't want to insult our immigration
07:40that they can let a person in.
07:42Alright.
07:44Thank you very much for your time
07:46and for the information you gave us,
07:48Attorney Stephen David,
07:50lawyer of Mayor Alice Goh.
08:01That's www.gmanews.tv.