OMBUDSMAN ORDERS DISMISSAL FROM SERVICE OF ALICE GUO

SUSPENDED Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo was ordered dismissed from the service by the Office of the Ombudsman for grave misconduct.

In an order dated August 12, the Ombudsman also ordered the forfeiture of Guo’s retirement benefits.

The dismissed Bamban mayor was likewise perpetually banned from holding public office.

“Guo’s involvement in operations of raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) in her area bared a “willful intent on her part to violate the law or disregard established rules,” the Anti-Graft Office said.

“The series of acts are interconnected, leaving no other conclusion than that they were committed by Guo with ulterior motive or self-interest,” it added.

The Ombudsman also found 12 other Bamban officials guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service and were ordered suspended for three months.

Suspended are Vice Mayor Leonardo Anunciacion, business permit and licensing officer Edwin Ocampo, Adenn Sigua, Johny Sales, Jayson Galang, Nikko Ballio, Ernesto Salting, Jose Salting Jr., Robin Mangiliman, Jose Aguilar, Mary Lacsamana and Rainier Rivera.

NO. 1 COUNCILOR IN BAMBAN REPLACES GUO

Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos Jr. on Wednesday installed the no. 1 councilor of Bamban, Tarlac as its new acting  mayor following the Ombudsman decision to dismiss Guo for her involvement in an illegal POGO firm-turned “scam farm” in the municipality.

Erano Timbang took his oath of office before Abalos  in simple ceremonies  held at the Executive Lounge of the Philippine National Police Multi-Purpose Center in Camp Crame.

Abalos said Timbang is the next in line of succession in Bamban following the dismissal of Guo and the three-month suspension order imposed by the Office of the Ombudsman on Vice Mayor Leonardo Anunciacion.

The newly-installed acting Bamban mayor  became known as the sole councilor who opposed the granting of the POGO permit in the municipality.

“He had a difference of opinion about the granting of permit to the POGO company in Bamban. He is the only one who opposed it so he was absolved by the Ombudsman,” the DILG chief said. 

BIR FILES TAX EVASION COMPLAINT VS GUO

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, a tax evasion case against Guo.

BIR Commissioner Romeo “Jun” Lumagui filed the P500,000 tax evasion complaint against Guo before the Department of Justice (DOJ)  in connection with the transfer and later sale of her shares in Baofu Land Development Inc..

Lumagui said the transfer of shares to a certain Jack Uy had no capital gains tax and documentary stamp tax, thereby violating the National Internal Revenue Code, particularly Section 254 (attempt to evade or defeat tax), Section 255 (failure to file CGT and DST returns), and Section 250 (failure to file/supply certain information).

Aside from Guo, also charged in the complaint were Uy, and Baofu corporate secretary Rachelle Joan Malonzo Carreon.

According to Lumagui, they found that the taxes for the transfer of shares have not been paid, a clear manifestation that there is tax evasion in the transaction.