Mayor Guo calls for lifting of suspension over POGO allegations

MANILA, Philippines – Mayor Alice Guo’s camp has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to lift her six-month precautionary suspension over her alleged connection with a Philippine offshore gambling company (POGO) in Bamban, Tarlac.

In her 31-page motion for retrial, Guo argued that the conditions for her preventive suspension in the case against her were not met and that contrary to the claims of the Ombudsman and the Department of Interior (DILG), the evidence of her guilt was “not strong.”

The mayor also claimed that there was no substantive evidence for all elements of the allegations against her: serious misconduct, significant dishonesty, gross neglect of duty and conduct detrimental to the welfare of the service.

“It is respectfully submitted that none of the above elements of the administrative allegations are present in the instant case. All of the actions complained of, even if grossly distorted and exaggerated, are within the scope of the law and as part of Defendant Guo’s sworn duty as the local government chief of her municipality,” the motion states.

“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 and are based on mere conjecture, speculation, opinion and questionable findings without the required amount of evidence,” it added.

The Ombudsman ordered the preventive suspension of Guo, Ocampo and Sigua on May 31, citing “strong evidence of their guilt.”

The complaint was based on the findings of a task force set up by the DILG to investigate the culpability of local officials in aiding and abetting the illegal activities of POGO company Zun Yuan Technology Inc. in Bamban.

In March, Zun Yuan’s Baofu complex was raided for suspected human trafficking and serious illegal detention.

The same site was raided in 2023, when the POGO hub was still called Hongsheng. After the raid, it was renamed Zun Yuan.

According to the Task Force’s investigation, Guo’s sale of her Baofu shares through a deed of assignment was a “sham” because the amount of P2.5 million was disproportionate to her investment in the company, which amounts to about eight hectares of land.

DILG also stressed in its complaint that despite the raid and the issuance of a cease-and-desist order against Zun Yuan, Guo “neither terminated nor revoked their business licenses due to their business interests in Baofu.”

The Ombudsman also found that Guo had failed to ensure that Ocampo and Sigua “conscientiously performed” their duties and responsibilities to persuade Zun Yuan to comply with the cease-and-desist order. – Bella Cariaso