Escudero: Mayor Guo’s critics should present ‘burden of proof’
For Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero, the "burden of proof" is on those who are saying that Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo is not Filipino.
During the Kapihan sa Senado on Thursday, May 23, Escudero stated that for now, the presumption that the mayor is Filipino remains based on the documents presented and testimonies given to the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality.
READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2024/5/23/escudero-mayor-guo-s-critics-should-present-burden-of-proof
During the Kapihan sa Senado on Thursday, May 23, Escudero stated that for now, the presumption that the mayor is Filipino remains based on the documents presented and testimonies given to the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality.
READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2024/5/23/escudero-mayor-guo-s-critics-should-present-burden-of-proof
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NewsTranscript
00:00 "Yes, but there is a reason for us to worry. But the presumption is still there. He ran, he is a registered voter, he has a passport, he is Filipino.
00:19 Where it says no, it has been proven. For clarity, the one who can question his citizenship and qualification as mayor through the co-warrantor case is the Solicitor General only.
00:36 You have no right to disqualify him. If he is to be suspended by DILG, I don't know why, maybe they think he is not a citizen. So there should be a basis for that.
00:51 If you look back, you said that the father is not known. The father is Chinese. But if you remember the case of Senator Grace Poe, it was a decision of the Supreme Court about being a foundling.
01:10 In the case of Senator Poe, the mother and father are not known. That's why foundling. And she was adopted by her adoptive parents, Fernando Poe Jr. and Susan Rosas.
01:22 But the Supreme Court declared presumptively that she is a citizen. Because you cannot deprive citizenship of a child. That's what they said.
01:34 So by analogy, Senator Grace Poe has a passport. We used that reason in the case. She has a passport, ID, license, etc.
01:44 So prove that it's not true. We don't know who the father is, so maybe he is American. We don't know who the mother is, maybe the father is Chinese.
01:58 There is a basic principle in law. He who alleges must prove the same. He who alleges otherwise should be proven. If proven, then should be removed.
02:10 Yesterday, Senator Legarda was telling Mayor Guo not to convince everybody that she is a Filipino. So you're saying it should be the other way around.
02:20 The people accusing her should convince everybody that she is not a Filipino.
02:26 Let me say it this way. The burden of proof is on those saying she's not.
02:31 Kaya ngayon, gaya nang sabi ng Comileg, ministerial ang pagtanggap ng certificate of candidacy. In fact, di sila pwede magdisqualify.
02:42 Kasi pag pinayagin mo ang Comileg magdisqualify, e di pag may hindi gusto ang administration, di disqualify nila. So tama lang naman yan.
02:50 Sa punto ito, nananalo na, proklamado na, ang bola ay nasa kamay na ng Solicitor General. Mag-hi ng co-warrant of petition sa korte questioning her citizenship,
03:03 questioning her qualifications, and prove in court that she's not qualified. That's all I'm saying.
03:10 But the DILG can suspend her dahil ang requirement ng administrative case laban sa isang mayor ay preponderance of evidence lang o mas mababang uri ng ebidensya.
03:22 Kumpara sa ebidensyang dapat ibigay kaognay sa pagbabaliktad ng pagiging Filipino ni naman.
03:28 Pero sir, ang main issue pa rin kay Mayor Guo yung kanyang involvement sa POGO operation at ilang mga questionable business.
03:36 Gaya ng nasabi ni PM, niraid na nila. Ang palagi ko lang tanong, sa dami nang niraid bakit ba wala akong nakikita ang nahuhuli?
03:49 Bakit wala akong nakikita ang nakakasuhan at nahuhulong?
03:55 Kung may ginawang crimen talaga yan, bakit deportation lang ang solusyon? Bakit walang kaso?
04:01 [END]
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