MANILA – The Office of the Ombudsman has preventively suspended Bamban, Tarlac’s Mayor Alice Guo based on the recommendation by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
In an order released on Monday, Guo, along with Edwin Ocampo and Adenn Sigua, were suspended without pay during the period of investigation until termination “but not to exceed six months.”
“The High Court explained that preventive suspension is merely a preventive measure, a preliminary step in administrative investigation,” the Ombudsman said.
“The purpose thereof is to prevent the accused from using his position and the powers and prerogative of his office to influence potential witnesses or to tamper with records which maybe vital in the prosecution of the case against him,” it added.
The DILG previously said the taskforce created to investigate Guo’s alleged link to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) in her town had some “troubling findings of serious illegal acts which may have severe legal implications.”
“The DILG recommended to the Ombudsman the issuance of a preventive suspension against Mayor Guo, to prevent any influence on the continuing investigations of our and other agencies,” the DILG said.
“The DILG will continue to cooperate with the Ombudsman and other investigative bodies on this important issue, united in our shared mission of protecting our local institutions and furthering public interest,” he added.
GRAFT CASE VS GUO
In a separate development, DILG Undersecretary Juan Victor Llamas said graft charges has been filed against Guo due to her alleged involvement with POGO in her locality.
The charges were filed with the Office of the Ombudsman on May 24 and stemmed from the issuance of a permit to Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc.
“Despite the company failing to complete the requirements and having an expired license from the PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.), they were issued permits,” Llamas said.
“As the mayor of Bamban town, Alice Guo should have revoked Hongsheng’s business permit,” he added.
The controversy against Guo started after authorities raided a 10-hectare area operated by Zun Yuan Technology Inc. on March 13 and found several devices said to be linked to POGO operations.
The complex was previously raided in 2023 when it was operated by Hongsheng Technology Inc., which is now being linked to Guo as she applied for the letter of no objection for the complex’s license to operate.
The identity of Guo was put in question as she claimed in a Senate hearing that she has forgotten or has no knowledge of her personal details like her place of birth and name of school attended.
Guo only has a certificate of live birth, wherein it was declared that her father is a Filipino, but her father’s business records showed that he declared he is a Chinese national.
Additionally, Guo only registered as a voter in 2021 and won the mayoral election in Bamban in 2022 despite having no background in politics./PN
