MANILA – The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed the appeal of Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo to lift her six-month preventive suspension over her alleged links to a raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in her jurisdiction.
In a resolution dated June 21 and released publicly on Tuesday, the Ombudsman stood by its preliminary findings that there are sufficient and strong evidence against Guo and her fellow respondents.
Aside from the controversial mayor, also ordered suspended by the Ombudsman were Bamban Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) officer Edwin Campo and Municipal Legal Officer Adden Sigua.
The respondents were previously ordered suspended preventively to keep them from interfering in the investigation after the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) filed charges of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service against them.
The Ombudsman stated that there is evidence that Guo has business interest in Baofu Land Development Inc., owner of the land where the raided POGO was located.
“This was shown by a Tarlac Electric Cooperative Inc. Statement of Account dated March 8, 2024 under Guo’s name that was seized during the March 13, 2024 raid in the Baofu compound for alleged human trafficking and serious illegal detention,” the Ombudsman said.
The Ombudsman also cited documents showing that Baofu and the POGO, Zun Yuan, operated their respective businesses with permits processed by the BPLO and issued by Guo, as well as documents showing that Sigua knew and had prior acquaintances with Guo since he was the one who notarized each of the Deed of Absolute Sale covering the eight parcels of land that Guo bought that later on became the compound.
“This Office only deems it prudent to preventively suspend respondents Guo, Campo and Sigua given their undeniable hand in the operation of Baofu and Zun Yuan,” the Ombudsman said.
It added: “After due consideration of the factual circumstances of the instant case, this Office finds no compelling reason to reconsider and lift the Order of preventive suspension of respondents Guo, Campo and Sigua while the case against them is pending adjudication.”
Meanwhile, it was reported that Guo’s camp was “saddened” with the development and are now planning to appeal the resolution before the Court of Appeals./PN
