Alice Guo calls for lifting of suspension, Ombudsman acted on “speculation”

Lawyers for Bamban Mayor Alice Guo say the evidence against her “is not based on solid evidence.”

MANILA, Philippines – Controversial Bamban and Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo urged the Ombudsman to lift her suspension, stressing that none of her actions violated any law.

In her 31-page motion for retrial filed on Wednesday, June 5, Guo challenged the Ombudsman’s May 31 order suspending her for six months due to a lack of “strong evidence of her guilt.”

“The evidence against Defendant Guo is not based on substantive evidence, considering that the allegations in the complaint have no basis in fact or law, but are based on mere conjecture, speculation and opinion,” the motion states.

Guo is accused by the Department of Interior (DILG) of gross misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the interests of the service, as well as allegations of human trafficking by illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).

The Ombudsman also suspended Edwin Ocampo, Bamban’s business permit and license officer, and Adenn Sigua, the city’s legal officer.

According to the Ombudsman, there were sufficient grounds to suspend the three as there was strong evidence of their guilt. The office added that the complaints against the three “could justify their dismissal from service” and “their continued stay in office could prejudice the investigation of the case initiated against them.”

Preventive suspension is a common practice in investigations into public officials. It is intended to ensure the fairness of the investigation and to prevent officials from influencing the investigation through their position.

The DILG had previously stated that its complaint against the mayor of Bamban fell under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act or Republic Act 3019.

But the Ombudsman’s order ordering Guo’s suspension did not mention the corruption charges.

Guo is accused of issuing the business licenses of Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated, a POGO accused of human trafficking. However, Guo noted that the issuance of such licenses is not in itself irregular or illegal.

“For the reasons set out above, the evidence from such complaints can hardly be considered to be sufficiently strong for the purposes of the rules to justify the imposition of a preventive suspension, let alone for the maximum period of six months,” the motion states.

Guo is linked to Bamban POGO as documents showed she was among those who set up Baofu Land Incorporated in May 2019, the company that owns the land where Zun Yuan operates. Guo insists she has resigned from the company. – Rappler.com