Two senators welcomed the Office of the Ombudsman’s order for dismissal from service of suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo for grave misconduct over her “willful attempt to violate the law” as a public official.
Guo has been linked to the illegal activities of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in her town.
The Ombudsman has ordered the forfeiture of all her retirement benefits and her perpetual disqualification to reenter government service.
“I commend the Ombudsman for this sound and sensible judgment,” said Hontiveros, who is leading the Senate’s investigation into the POGO-related crimes in the Philippines.
“Alice Guo or Guo Hua Ping, a Chinese national, does not deserve to be a Philippine Mayor. She should have been stripped of that title immediately after we confirmed that she was not Filipino,” the senator added.
“Wala siyang karapatang magsilbi sa sambayanang Pilipino. At dapat mapanagot na siya sa paglabag niya sa ating mga batas (She has no right to serve the Filipino people. And she should be held accountable for violating our laws). I trust that our law enforcers are working double time to catch this fugitive,” she said.
But while the filing of cases against Guo are a welcome development, Hontiveros reiterated the need for law enforcers to arrest her as she is still a fugitive.
“All these cases against Alice Guo are well and good but as long as she is not found, our search for justice will not be complete,” the senator said.
Gatchalian, who first disclosed Guo’s possible identity as Chinese national Guo Hua Ping, also welcomed the development.
“She can run but she cannot hide from the strong arm of the law,” he said.
“This is proof that he is the mastermind and the one who moved to build the POGO in Bamban involved in illegal activities such as human trafficking, torture, and money laundering,” Gatchalian stressed.