DILG recommends preventive suspension against Bamban Mayor Alice Guo

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of the Internal and Local Government (DILG) recommended a preventive suspension against controversial Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo after questions about her personal background and alleged illegal activities remained unanswered.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. issued a statement on Saturday regarding the investigation into Guo’s alleged links to illegal activities of the Philippine Offshore Gambling Operator (POGO), human trafficking and surveillance.

“The DILG recommended that the Ombudsman impose a preventive suspension on Mayor Guo to prevent any influence on the ongoing investigations of our and other agencies,” he said in a statement.

“The DILG does not have the authority to directly suspend or fire local officials. Therefore, the DILG defers to the Ombudsman any sanctions that may be imposed on Guo in accordance with its disciplinary authority over elected officials of local governments pursuant to Section 21 Republic Act No. 6770.”

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RA 6770 refers to the Ombudsman Act of 1989, a law that regulates the functional and structural organization of the Office of the Ombudsman.

Sens. Risa Hontiveros and Sherwin Gatachalian had previously questioned Guo about her alleged Chinese citizenship after the mayor failed to provide information about her birthplace, school records and delayed birth registration at age 17.

Section 39 (a) of the Local Government Code of the Philippines requires elected local officials such as: B. Mayor, must be Filipino citizens.

Guo claimed at her proclamation rally in 2022 that her father, Anghelito Guo (real name Jian Zhong Guo), is Chinese while her mother is Filipina.

While Guo’s father is now registered as a Filipino, Gatchalian questioned why Anghelito was identified as Chinese in documents related to his embroidery business.

“Disturbing findings about illegal activities”

Abalos had already set up a seven-member task force on April 5, 2024, to investigate allegations regarding Guo’s connection to illegal POGO operations in Bamban.

“The updated report of the task force has been submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman for appropriate action today, May 17, 2024,” the DILG official said.

“Based on the report, there are worrying findings of serious illegal actions that may have serious legal consequences.”

At least 875 people were rounded up at the premises of Zuan Yuan Technology Inc., a POGO center in Bamban, last March after complaints about a Vietnamese national escaping the facility. The raid was based on information that the company was involved in human trafficking and crimes such as romance fraud.

Gatchalian previously said he had received documents showing that the said facility’s electricity bill was named after Guo himself. The Philippine National Police also said it was investigating the site on suspicion of surveillance and hacking of government websites.

Legal challenges

The attorney general’s office had previously formed a team to determine whether Guo is holding or holding public office illegally, a move some lawmakers support.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. also called for an investigation into Guo, claiming that “no one knows the mayor” ahead of the 2022 elections. He said this when he appeared in a photo with Guo March during the election campaign that same year.