No DILG suspension motion against Guo – Martires

The ombudsman is open to investigating controversial Bamban Tarlac mayor Alice Guo, but the investigation must go through similar procedures to other cases and will not receive preferential treatment.

In a telephone interview on Sunday, Ombudsman Samuel Martires said that while he could respond to the suspension of the local executive, he noted that the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) had not yet made a recommendation.

“There is no such application for preventive suspension. There is nothing in the letter asking for a preventive suspension,” Martires told Daily Tribune.

“All cases are the same. We will not prioritize any case.”

Over the weekend, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. said the task force formed by the DILG to investigate Guo’s alleged dealings with the Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) in her city had already submitted a copy of its factual investigation to the ombudsman.

Serious consequences

Abalos cited “worrying results of serious unlawful actions that could have serious legal implications” and said they would rely on the Ombudsman’s decision on whether to grant their request to punish Guo with a six-month preventive ban.

The DILG does not have the authority to directly suspend or fire local officials. The State has delegated such authority to the Ombudsman through a disciplinary authority under Section 21 of Republic Act 6770 or the Ombudsman Act of 1989.

Martires confirmed that his office received the “unsigned” DILG investigation report. However, he claimed that they could not issue a preventive suspension order against Guo because Abalos believed that doing so would prevent any influence on the ongoing investigations of her department and other agencies.

“We are not bound by their task force, but they could file a complaint if they wanted to,” Martires said.

Guo, suspected of being a Chinese activist, is being investigated over her alleged connection to the illegal POGO operations as well as questions about her identity as a Filipino citizen.

Senators have cast doubt on Guo’s background and citizenship status, pointing out that there are no official records to support her claim as a Filipino.

The election commission, which revealed that Guo had only registered as a voter in 2018, warned that the mayor could be charged with perjury once it was proven that the allegations against her were justified.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., also confused about Guo’s origins, has already ordered the immigration agency to thoroughly investigate the matter with the Senate.