Controversial Philippine mayor accused of being a Chinese spy suspended

MANILA – The mayor of Bamban Town in Tarlac, a small city in the Philippines, has been suspended from office following an order from the Ombudsman.

In an order dated May 31, Ombudsman Samuel Martires said there were “sufficient grounds for precautionary suspension” of Ms. Alice Guo and two other city officials “as there is strong evidence of their guilt.”

Mayor Guo, Edwin Ocampo, an official of the municipal business permit and license office, and Adenn Sigua, a city legal officer, were placed on preventive suspension without pay pending the outcome of the investigation against them. However, their suspension cannot exceed six months, according to the Ombudsman.

Copies of the order granting the Department of Interior’s (DILG) request to suspend Ms. Guo and other local officials were released to the media on Monday, June 3.

“(…) This Office considers that there are sufficient grounds for the precautionary suspension of Alice Leal Guo, Edwin Ocampo and Adenn Sigua because there is strong evidence of their guilt (…) their continued service in office could prejudice the investigation of the case against them,” the order states.

“Whereas, the petitioner’s motion for preventive suspension is hereby granted, but only as regards Alice Leal Guo, Edwin Ocampo and Adenn Sigua. They are hereby preventively suspended without pay during the period of investigation until its conclusion, but for a maximum of six months,” it added.

Last week, the DILG filed charges of grave misconduct, grave dishonesty, gross neglect of duty and conduct detrimental to service against Ms. Guo, Ocampo and Sigua for allegedly allowing illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) to do business in Bamban.

Undersecretary Juan Victor Llamas represented the DILG in the case before the Office of the Ombudsman.

On May 18, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. announced that the DILG had recommended to the Office of the Ombudsman that the mayor be provisionally suspended so that she cannot influence the investigations against her.

Mr. Abalos said the seven-member DILG task force investigating Ms. Guo’s alleged connection to a Pogo had already submitted its report, which contained “disturbing findings of serious illegal acts that could have serious legal implications.”

According to the Ombudsman’s order, the DILG alleged that Ms. Guo neither terminated nor revoked the business licenses issued to Pogo “due to her business interests in Baofu,” even though the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) revoked Zun Yuan Technology’s license as Pogo.

Baofu refers to Baofu Land Development Inc., the site in Bamban, Tarlac where Pogo does business. Ms. Guo is reportedly the president of Baofu, which bought eight properties in Bamban in February 2019.

Ms. Guo claims she sold her property to Baofu, but DILG believes the amount she sold it for – P2.5 million (S$57,320) – is “in stark contrast to her investment in Baufo, which comprises about eight hectares of land.”

According to the Ombudsman’s order, Ms. Guo Baufo also issued a business license on October 25, 2022, although Pagcor had revoked Zun Yuan’s business license on October 6, 2022.

A Senate committee is also investigating Ms. Guo’s alleged ties to Pogo and her identity, citing the possibility that she is an alleged Chinese “agent” or spy trained to infiltrate the Philippine government.

Ms. Guo has repeatedly denied the allegations against her. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER/ASIA NEWS NETWORK