The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) held firm to its preventive suspension order for Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo and two others.
Publicized on June 25, Ombudsman Samuel Martires' seven-page resolution dated June 18 denied the appeal to clear mayor Guo, Bamban's Business Permit and Licensing Officer (BPLO) Edwin Ocampo, and Municipal Legal Officer Adden Sigua of the suspension imposed.
In a report by Val Gonzales on MBC TV Network News, the anti-graft body clarified the suspension was not punishment, but was put in place to ensure the investigation will be conducted freely and kept from adverse influences.
"There is strong evidence showing their guilt, that the charges against them involves Grave Misconduct, Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service, and Gross Neglect of Duty, which may warrant their removal from the service, that their continued stay in office may prejudice the investigation of the case filed against them," the Ombudsman declared in the suspension order.
"There is a need to preserve the documents and evidence pertaining to this case which they may have control and custody; and in addition, in order to avoid the commission of further malfeasance and/or malfeasance in office."
Guo, Ocampo, and Sigua alleged the charges lodged against them were baseless and filed the motions to lift the suspension.
"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," the Office stated in its denial of the motions.
The OMB maintained the evidence against the three "is strong at this time," particularly Guo's indisputable business interest in Baofu Land Development Inc., which owns the seven-hectare property harboring the illegal POGO hub that had been raided.
