DILG files criminal complaint against Bamban Mayor Alice Guo for illegal POGO

The DILG says the complaint filed with the Office of the Ombudsman also involves other local officials of Bamban, Tarlac.

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has filed a criminal complaint against Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo for allegedly being involved in an illegal Philippine offshore gambling (POGO) operator in her town.

DILG Undersecretary for Foreign, Legal and Legislative Affairs Juan Victor Llamas told Rappler on Saturday, June 1, that the Department of Interior filed the complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman on May 24. Llamas said their complaint against the Bamban mayor falls under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, or Republic Act No. 3019.

“‘And when the permit was issued – so the permit that you issue – the permit was not issued without the requirements, the necessary requirements being met. If that is not the case (requirement), you have to apply for a permit… And then the permit expires with PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation).) License, at the time of expiry, unless the Mayor revokes the business permission”, said Llamas.

(The POGO was granted a permit – because there must be a permit there – without the prerequisite, the necessary prerequisite. They lack the prerequisites, but they got a permit anyway.)

He said the mayor revoked the business permit after the PAGCOR license expired. “She should have done that immediately,” he said.

“So, the mayor’s oversight of this POGO, I didn’t expect it.”, the DILG official added.

(Overseeing the mayor on this POGO is, in our opinion, what she failed to do as mayor.)

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Llamas said the complaint involves other local officials in Bamban besides Guo.

Guo is currently in trouble because of her alleged ties to Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated. The company was raided in March this year following complaints of human trafficking and severe illegal detention.

When the issue of the POGOs – now called Internet gambling licensees – reached the Senate, lawmakers pointed out the mayor’s dubious background. Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros raised the question of whether Guo was an “agent” planted by China to infiltrate local politics. The mayor also claimed she could not remember basic details of her life.

The DILG complaint is the latest development in the government’s effort to suspend Guo.

DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos said in May that they recommended the suspension of the Bamban mayor to the Office of the Ombudsman. The DILG sent a report to the Ombudsman citing “disturbing findings of serious illegal acts that could have serious legal consequences.” Abalos said the DILG turned to Ombudsman Samuel Martires because the agency does not have suspension powers.

Martires later said that his office did not receive a recommendation but an investigation report on Guo’s case, according to a report by GMA News. The ombudsman then suggested that the DILG instead file a complaint with the necessary documents so that his office could investigate the allegations against the local government chief. – Rappler.com