THE Office of the Ombudsman has affirmed the six-month preventive suspension of Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo and two other local officials, citing sufficient grounds to hold that the evidence against them are strong.
In his June 18 order, Ombudsman Samuel Martires rejected the motion for reconsideration filed by Guo, Business Permit and Licensing Office chief Edwin Ocampo and municipal legal officer Adenn Sigua.
“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,” his resolution read.
“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,” it stated.
Last May, the Ombudsman suspended the three officials following a complaint filed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) accusing them of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
The Ombudsman maintained there is evidence that Guo has a business interest in Baofu Land Development Inc., owner of the land where the raided POGO is located.
It cited a statement of account of the Tarlac Electric Cooperative Inc. under Guo’s name that was seized during the March 13, 2024 raid in the Baofu compound.
Moreover, the Ombudsman said documents showed that Baofu and the POGO, Zun Yuan, operated their businesses with permits processed by the BPLO and issued by Guo, and that Sigua knew and had prior acquaintances with Guo since he was the one who notarized each of the deed of absolute sale of the eight parcels of land that Guo bought that which later on became the compound.
The camp of Guo, however, denied the mayor’s involvement in POGO activities.
Guo’s lawyer, Stephen David, said while they respect the decision of the Ombudsman, they would still file a petition for certiorari with the Court of Appeals.