Senator Risa Hontiveros, who heads the Senate investigation on the case of Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, said on Monday that the preventive suspension against the local chief executive should only be imposed.
In a Facebook post, Hontiveros said she first called for the preventive suspension against the mayor, who "undoubtedly has ties with POGO."
"We also received information that she tried to obstruct the ongoing investigation immediately after the POGO was raided. This should have already warranted a suspension. We only hope this is not too late," said Hontiveros.
The Senator reiterated that whatever the mayor says, she cannot hide the evidence proving she has connections to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator's firm, Zun Yuan Technology Inc. which was later discovered to be conducting hacking and surveillance activities.
"Let us not forget, this is a POGO with alleged hacking and surveillance activities. POGO na puro scams, krimen, at human trafficking ang dala sa bansa," said Hontiveros.
"I look forward to our Executive Session soon. Inaasahan ko na mas lalong maliliwanagan tayo sa totoong papel ni Alice Guo hindi lang sa mga POGO, kundi pati sa mga banta sa ating pambansang seguridad," she added.
The Office of the Ombudsman made the preventive suspension following the graft complaints filed by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) over her purported collusion with the POGO firm, built on her land, Baofu Land Development Inc. in Bamban,
Two other officials of Bamban were also included in the suspension, namely Edwin Ocampo and Adenn Sigua, as the Ombudsman "find sufficient grounds" considering that "there is strong evidence showing their guilt."
Charges against Guo, Ocampo, and Siguo involve grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and gross neglect of duty, which may warrant their removal from service.
In the nine-page order issued by the Ombudsman on Monday, the DILG alleged that Guo did not cancel the business permits issued to Zun Yuan “because of her business interest” even if the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) revoked its license to operate.
Guo, who is purportedly the president of Baofu, claims to have divested ownership of Baofu, but DILG believed the amount she divested for P2.5 million was “grossly incongruent to her investment in Baufo, which is approximately eight hectares of land.
Furthermore, Guo was also discovered to have given Baufo a business permit on October 25, 2022, despite PAGCOR’s cancellation of Zun Yuan’s, or its predecessor Hongsheng’s, license to operate on October 6, 2022.
The POGO firm was first raided by authorities in 2023 and once again raided on March 13 this year, rescuing at least 800 employees.
Aside from the illegal POGO firm, Guo is also being scrutinized over her nationality after finding irregularities in her birth certificate.
Guo, however, repeatedly denied the accusations against her.
