Up to 6 months over POGOs in Bamban
MANILA, Philippines — Mayor Alice Guo and two other officials of Bamban, Tarlac have been placed under preventive suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman as authorities investigate their culpability over the illegal activities of a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in the municipality.
In a nine-page order issued yesterday, the ombudsman granted the petition of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to have Guo, business permit and licensing officer Edwin Ocampo and municipal legal officer Adenn Sigua suspended.
“They are hereby preventively suspended, without pay, during the period of investigation until its termination, but not to exceed six months,” Ombudsman Samuel Martires wrote.
The ombudsman said it found sufficient grounds to suspend the three as “there is strong evidence showing their guilt.” He said the charges against them may warrant their removal from office and their continued stay may prejudice the investigation.
Martires also noted the need to preserve the documents and evidence possibly under the control or possession of the three officials.
Guo confirmed receiving the ombudsman’s suspension order, but maintained her innocence.
“Today, I received an order from the Ombudsman on my supposed six month suspension. I agree with the process of the law and I accept the decision of the Ombudsman but I will fight for my case,” Guo said in a statement on her Facebook page.
“I would like to reiterate my innocence and my honesty in serving our town and the people,” Guo added.
“I am ready to cooperate with the authorities to ensure that the truth and justice will prevail,” she said.
She also thanked her supporters, saying the support of the people gives her strength.
“I will not give up and will continue to defend my integrity and protect my right as an individual,” Guo added.
Interior Undersecretary for external, legal and legislative affairs Juan Victor Llamas lauded the decision of the Ombudsman.
“We expect this order from the Ombudsman. We are very optimistic from the time we filed the complaint that a preventative suspension would be issued considering that the evidence is strong,” Llamas told The STAR.
Grave misconduct
Earlier, the DILG filed an administrative complaint against Guo, Ocampo and Sigua for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
The complaint was filed after the DILG created a task force to investigate the culpability of local officials in abetting POGO firm Zun Yuan Technology Inc.’s illegal activities in Bamban.
“Our basis was violation of the anti-grant and corrupt practices as she (Guo) issued a business permit, at first to Hongsheng and when its POGO license with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. had expired, she did not cancel it,” Llamas earlier said.
He noted that in February 2023, a raid was made on the POGO hub due to its involvement in cryptocurrency.
“If only she had revoked it (the business permit), its illegal operation would not have continued. And second, Hongsheng was changed to Zun Yuan and she also issued it a business permit despite its PAGCOR license having expired in February. Its illegal operation continued and it was raided in March for human trafficking,” Llamas added.
Zun Yuan’s Baofu compound was raided in March for alleged human trafficking and serious illegal detention.
The same compound was raided in March 2023 when the POGO hub was still called Hongsheng. It was renamed Zun Yuan after the raid.
Based on a DILG task force investigation, Guo’s divestment of her shares in Baofu through a deed of assignment “is simulated” as the P2.5 million involved appears to be not commensurate to her investment in the company, which is approximately eight hectares of land.
DILG also stressed in its complaint that despite the raid and issuance of a cease and desist order against Zun Yuan, Guo “did not cancel or revoke their business permits because of her business interest in Baofu.”
Ocampo is facing charges for processing and issuing permits to Zun Yuan despite knowing it has incomplete supporting documents.
Sigua is charged for being remiss in his duty for failing to investigate negligent Sangguniang Barangay members who issued a resolution expressing no objection to Zun Yuan’s application. Sigua is also being held to account for failing to investigate Ocampo’s issuance of permits.
“Records show that Sigua knew and had prior acquaintances with Guo since he was the one who notarized each of the deed of absolute sale covering the eight parcels of land that Guo bought that is now the Baofu compound where Hongsheng and Zun Yuan operated,” the Ombudsman said.
Guo’s ties with the POGO hub are also being investigated in the Senate, which has since taken focus on the neophyte mayor’s supposed dubious background after suspicions were raised that she could be a Chinese spy or asset, which she denied.
Currently, senators are looking deeper into Guo’s family background after she was accused of lying about having a Filipino househelp as mother.
This has also prompted the Office of the Solicitor General to form a team to look into filing a quo warranto case against Guo for allegedly misdeclaring herself as Filipino when she ran for mayor.
Senators are also questioning Guo’s alleged ties with criminals, who she said were incorporators in the mayor’s company, Baofu Land Development Inc.
In documents submitted by Baofu to the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2019, the incorporators included Guo, Filipino Rachel Joan Malonzo Carreon, Cypriot Zhiyang Huang, Chinese Zhang Ruijin and Baoying Lin of the Dominican Republic.
Zhang was convicted in April for having links to the reported “largest money laundering case in Singapore.”
According to a report by Channel News Asia, Zhang has “$41 million worth of assets overseas, including shareholdings in a Philippine real estate development company.”
The Philippine National Police is currently looking into information received by the office of Sen. Risa Hontiveros that Guo has ties with criminals, as well as reports linking the mayor to the Chinese Communist Party.
Hontiveros said the Ombudsman’s issuance of preventive suspension – especially against Guo – was a step in the right direction.
“We also received information that she tried to obstruct the ongoing investigation immediately after the POGO was raided. This should have already warranted a suspension. We only hope this is not too late,” the senator said.
“I look forward to our executive session soon. I hope that we will be more enlightened on the true role of Alice Guo not only in POGOs, but also in the threats to our national security,” she said. — Bella Cariaso, Cecille Suerte Felipe