The Ombudsman has junked the appeal of suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo to lift the six-month preventive suspension imposed on the local chief executive in connection with her alleged ties to the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) operations in her town.
According to the Ombudsman, there is "no compelling reason" to reconsider the suspension order against Guo and two other suspended municipal officials, Edwin Ocampo and Adenn Sigua.
The Ombudsman reiterated that the suspension is only a preventive measure but not a penalty because their continued stay in office poses a threat to potential witnesses and prejudices the investigation of the case.
"[T]he purpose thereof is to prevent the accused from using his position and the powers and prerogative of his office to influence potential witnesses or to tamper with records which may be vital in the prosecution of the case against him," the decision dated 18 June read.
On 6 June, Guo's camp filed a motion for reconsideration before the Ombudsman to lift its preventive suspension order, arguing that the allegations against the local chief executive are an "amalgam of exceedingly distorted, exaggerated, and fabricated stories viciously designed to hoodwink" the Ombudsman.
"A perusal of the assailed order, which is the only basis of respondent Guo to file this instant motion, would readily show that the complaint filed against her is founded on erroneous accusations. It bears to emphasize that the allegations found therein are based on a misapprehension of facts and laws," Guo's motion reads.
The Ombudsman, however, stood by its preliminary findings, contending that there is strong evidence showing the guilty of the three local officials.
"Again, without delving into the merits of the case and without prejudging the same, this Office reiterates its preliminary finding that there are sufficient grounds to hold that the evidence against respondents Guo, Campo, and Sigua is strong at this time," the Ombudsman said.
Citing Tarlac Electric Cooperative Inc.'s statement of accounut, the Ombudsman said Guo has undeniable business interest in Baofu Land Development Inc., a POGO compound in Bamban.
Baofu hosts Zun Yuan Technology and Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc., which were raided earlier this year by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) for alleged human trafficking and fraudulent cryptocurrency investment operations, respectively.
Records also showed that Zun Yuan and Hongsheng continued their operations, notwithstanding the cease-and-desist order from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
Guo is said to be the president of Baofu, owning at least 50 percent of the firm's stock.
The mayor, however, claimed she had divested her share totaling P2.5 million through a deed of assignment before she assumed office in 2022.
The PAOCC is set to file more cases against Guo after it found the mayor's digital footprint and paper trial footprint in the two consecutive POGO hubs it raided, alleging her connection with the operations is becoming "clearer."
Apart from her alleged links to POGO, Guo, a suspected Chinese asset, is also under scrutiny amid questions surrounding her identity as a Filipino citizen.
Senators have raised doubts regarding Guo's background and citizenship status, pointing out the absence of official records to substantiate her claim as a Filipino.