The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has recommended to the Office of the Ombudsman the issuance of a preventive suspension against Bamban Mayor Alice Guo of Tarlac “to prevent any influence on the continuing investigations of our and other agencies.”
The department formed a special team to investigate allegations of Guo’s involvement in illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in Bamban, Tarlac.
DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. tapped lawyer Benjamin Zabala of the agency’s Internal Audit Service to lead the 7-man team tasked to conduct the probe.
“The Task Force’s updated report has been submitted today, May 17, 2024, to the Office of the Ombudsman for their appropriate action. Based on the report, there are troubling findings of serious illegal acts which may have severe legal implications,” Abalos said.
“The DILG does not have the power to directly suspend or dismiss local officials. Hence, the DILG defers to the Ombudsman regarding any sanctions that may be imposed against Guo, in line with its disciplinary authority over elective officials of local governments under Section 21 of Republic Act No. 6770,” he added.
The DILG chief said they will continue to cooperate with the Ombudsman and other investigative bodies on the matter.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri meanwhile appealed to the Commission of Elections (Comelec) to be circumspect in the issuance of the Certificates of Candidacy (COC) if there is no deeper background check on a candidate.
He noted that the requirements in the Constitution are “simple” for those running for public office in the national and local elections.
“But now, with what has been happening, the Comelec should be stricter. We might not know that our mayors, governors, congressmen, and senators are planted assets so we have to be very careful,” Zubiri said.
According to Zubiri, there is already an ongoing investigation in the Senate led by Senators Risa Hontiveros and Sherwin Gatchalian on the citizenship and origin of Guo. “We were the first to investigate her and our senators already have a few findings.”
Zubiri said he also doubts where Guo came from and her emergence in the political arena.
He admitted he was alarmed with allegations being hurled against Guo if it will be proven to be true.
He related that “we are scared of drug politics because if syndicates have many money- drugs and gambling, they can elect officials of our country, that’s alarming. “
“This might not be drug, but this might be gambling money which is particularly illegal gambling money, that’s illegal,” he pointed out.
During the Senate Committee on Women hearing on POGO operations, Hontiveros, its chairperson and Gatchalian grilled Guo on her identity, citizenship and origin.
Guo failed to present any record of her birth or hospital record or school records. But based on her COC which was submitted by the Comelec, the 37-year old Guo stated that Tarlac, Tarlac as her place of birth.
She also declared in her COC that at the day before the May 9 elections, she has been living in the Philippines for 35 years and two months and she has been living in Bamban for 18 years and two months.
The senators categorically stated that Guo had lied on several occasions in her testimonies given to the Senate. These contradicted the documents they gathered.
Meanwhile, Senators Christopher Go and Francis Tolentino called on the Department of Justice and the Office of the Solicitor General to investigate if Guo can hold a position in the government.
