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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Ombudsman orders dismissal of Alice Guo as mayor of Bamban, Tarlac

Ombudsman orders dismissal of Alice Guo as mayor of Bamban, Tarlac

Published Aug 13, 2024 08:51 am

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of suspended Mayor Alice Leal Guo of Bamban, Tarlac after she was found guilty of grave misconduct in the 2019 acquisition of parcels of land where the Baofu compound is located.

The Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) that was raided by law enforcers for human trafficking and serious illegal detentions is located in the Boufu compound in Bamban town.

Aside  from the dismissal, Guo's retirement benefits were ordered forfeited and she is banned perpetually from re-entering government service.

The OMB's rulings were contained in a decision signed by Ombudsman Samuel R. Martires last August 12.

In the same decision, the OMB held Bamban Vice Mayor Leonardo Anunciacion, Business Permit and Licensing Officer (BPLO) Edwin Ocampo, and Municipal Legal Officer Adenn Sigua, as well as  Sangguniang Bayan Members Johny Sales, Jayson S. Galang, Nikko T. Balilo, Ernesto Salting, Jose M. Salting, Jr., Robin Mangiliman, Jose Casmo Aguilar, Mary Andrei Lacsamana, and Ranier Rivera guilty of conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service for which they were ordered suspended for three months.

The OMB also ruled that in the event that Guo's dismissal or the others' suspension can no longer be enforced, the dismissal penalty shall be converted into a fine equivalent to Guo's salary for one year while the three-month suspension penalty shall be converted into a fine equivalent to the respondents' three-months salary, payable to the Office of the Ombudsman.

"This Office finds substantial evidence to hold respondent Mayor Guo liable for Grave Misconduct, and BPLO Ocampo, Legal Officer Sigua, and incumbent SB members for Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service," Martires said. 

The OMB said that Guo applied for various clearances and business permits for the construction of buildings in the Baofu compound even after her supposed divestment of her shares in Baofu. 

She also applied for a Letter of No Objection in favor of Hongsheng, and she failed to revoke or cancel its permit despite its raid on Feb. 1, 2023 and the cancellation of its license to operate by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), it said.

These all point to "a willful intent on her part to violate the law or disregard established rules," the decision stated. 

"Needless to stress, when respondent Guo started to discharge her duties and responsibilities as Municipal Mayor, she remained to be the real, true, and actual President of Baofu Land Development Inc., and stands to benefit from the continued operations of Hongsheng and Zun Yuan," it also stated. 

The OMB decision resolved the administrative complaints filed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) against Guo and her co-respondents.

The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has filed a quo warranto case against Guo challenging her authority and qualification to discharge the functions of Bamban town mayor.

Solicitor General Menardo I. Guevarra said the dismissal of Guo will not affect the quo warranto case.

Guo and several other respondents have also been charged with non-bailable qualified trafficking in persons before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Since Guo failed to attend several hearings and did not submit her counter-affidavit during those hearings, the DOJ panel of prosecutors has decided to resolve the charges based solely on the complaints.

Related Tags

dismissal Ombudsman Samuel Martires Ombudsman Alice Guo
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