Alice Guo wants suspension lifted, Ombudsman claims, acting on ‘speculation’

Lawyers for Bamban Mayor Alice Guo say the evidence against her ‘is not based on substantial evidence’

MANILA, Philippines – Worried Bamban Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo urged the Ombudsman to lift the suspension order, saying none of her actions broke any law.

Guo’s 31-page motion for reconsideration filed on Wednesday, June 5, challenges the Ombudsman’s May 31 ruling suspending her for six months due to lack of “strong evidence of guilt.”

“The evidence against Defendant Guo is not based on substantial evidence, given that the allegations contained in the complaint have no basis in fact or law (but) are based on mere suppositions, speculations and opinions,” the motion reads.

Guo is charged by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) with gross misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service over allegations of human trafficking through illegal Filipino overseas gaming operators (POGOs).

The ombudsman also suspended Edwin Ocampo, Bamban’s business permit and licensing officer, and Adenna Sigua, the city’s legal officer.

According to the Ombudsman, they found sufficient grounds to suspend all three due to strong evidence of guilt. The office added that the complaints against the three “may justify their removal from service” and “their continued retention in office may interfere with the investigation of the case brought against them.”

Preventive suspension is standard practice in investigations involving public officials, intended to ensure the integrity of the investigation and to avoid officials being able to influence the investigation through their position.

The DILG had earlier stated that their complaint against the Bamban mayor falls under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act or Republic Act No. 3019.

However, the bribery complaint was not mentioned in the Ombudsman’s order that ordered Guo’s suspension.

Guo is accused of greenlighting the business license of Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated, a POGO accused of human trafficking. Guo noted, however, that the issuance of such permits itself was not illegal or unlawful.

“Accordingly, the evidence from such complaints can hardly be considered to be sufficiently strong as provided for in the regulations to justify the imposition of preventive suspension, let alone a maximum period of six months,” the proposal reads.

Guo is associated with Bamban POGO, as documents show that she was one of the people who formed Baofu Land Incorporated in May 2019, the company that owns the land where Zun Yuan operates. Guo insists she left the company. – Rappler.com