A Pasig City court has rejected the motions for leave to file a demurrer to evidence by former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Leal Guo and several of her co-accused, ruling that they lacked merit.
The denial paved the way for the continuation of their trial on qualified human trafficking charges.
Following the ruling, Guo and her co-accused—Rita Sapnu Yturralde, Thelma Barrogo Laranan, Rowena Gonzales Evangelista, and Merlie Joy Manalo Castro—will be required to present their defense, with the trial dates proceeding as planned.
A demurrer is akin to a motion to dismiss due to insufficient evidence.
Pasig RTC Branch 167 Presiding Judge Annielyn Medes-Cabelis ruled that the motions lacked merit but clarified that the accused may still file a demurrer to evidence without prior leave.
However, if they proceed with this, they will forfeit their right to present evidence if the demurrer is denied, as stated under Section 23, Rule 119 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure.
The court exempted accused Jamielyn Santos Cruz, allowing her to file a demurrer to evidence in several related criminal cases. Both the defense and prosecution have a strict 10-day window for submissions before a resolution is made.
Guo and her co-accused face charges under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act in connection with a raid on a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Bamban, Tarlac, where over 800 Filipino and foreign workers were rescued.
The court previously ruled that there was sufficient basis to try Guo and 15 others, including foreign nationals and former government officials, for qualified trafficking, a non-bailable offense.
Guo remains detained at the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory in Barangay Pinagbuhatan following her court-ordered transfer from Camp Crame.
Her co-accused, including Malaysian national Walter Wong Long, face similar restrictions, while several others remain at large with active arrest warrants.
Guo and the other accused must now present their defense, with hearings set for 14, 15, 19, 20, and 28 May.
The prosecution presented sufficient evidence to justify the denial of bail and the rejection of the motions for demurrer.