MANILA, Philippines – THE Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of Alice Guo as Mayor of Bamban, Tarlac following her alleged links to the raided offshore gaming operator facility in her town.
A 25-page decision on Tuesday (August 13) said Guo was found guilty of grave misconduct which merits her dismissal from service, forfeiture of all her retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification to re-enter government service.
The Ombudsman said Guo’s involvement in the raided POGO hub in Bamban showed “willful intent on her part to violate the law or disregard established rules.”
“The series of acts are interconnected leaving no other conclusion than that they were committed by Guo with ulterior motives or self-interest,” the decision said.
Along with Guo, Vice Mayor Leonardo Asuncion, business permit and licensing officer (BPLO) Edwin Ocampo and municipal legal officer Adenn Sigua were likewise found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and thus suspended for three months.
Ten others were likewise ordered suspended:
- Johny Sales
- Jayson Galang
- Nikko Balilo
- Ernesto Salting
- Jose Salting Jr.
- Robin Mangiliman
- Jose Casmo Aguilar
- Mary Andrei Lacsamana
- Ranier Rivera
For those no longer in office, the penalty is equivalent to their three-month salary which may be deducted from their retirement benefits, leave credits or other pending receivables.
Orionpost has sought for the side of Guo’s camp via her lawyer Stephen David but has not replied as of writing.
Last June, the Ombudsman ordered for the suspension of Guo following a complaint filed by the Department of Interior and Local Government against the embattled former town chief and other local officials over grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
The Ombudsman then placed Guo, Ocampo and Sugua under preventive suspension without pay, which must not exceed six months, until the resolution of the investigation on them.
The Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission also filed a qualified human trafficking case against the former mayor for her alleged connection to human trafficking of around 500 foreign individuals working for the raided POGO facility.
A Senate investigation looked into the possible links of Guo to POGOs.
Guo’s involvement in the POGO controversy first came out when Zun Yuan Technology, previously called Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc. located inside her property Baofu Land Development Inc, was raided by authorities last March.
In the Senate hearings, her identity was also questioned.
Also because of her continual disappearance, the Senate has ordered for her arrest as well as her siblings, Chinese father and alleged Chinese mother. They however remain at large.
Only her former accountant, Nancy Gamo, faced Senate inquiry and testified that indeed, Guo asked her to process the incorporation of the POGO companies which contrasts her denial of any involvement in its operations.
The National Bureau of Investigation, as well as the Commission on Elections also found matching results on the fingerprint analysis of Guo and Chinese national Guo Hua Ping.
Pieces of evidence coming out also disproved her earlier claims about her family.
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NBI quashes doubt on fingerprint result: ‘We are sure Alice Guo, Guo Hua Ping are one and the same’
Gatchialian: Alice Guo not homeschooled; not raised in farm; ‘we attended the same school’
Chinese woman Guo Hua Ping is suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, NBI confirms
