OMBUDSMAN SUSPENDS BAMBAN MAYOR ALICE GUO

BAMBAN, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo was ordered suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman due to her reported links with the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in her municipality.

In an order dated May 31 signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires, Guo was placed under preventive suspension without pay for a period not exceeding six months.

The suspension order was issued following the graft charges filed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on May 24 against the Bamban mayor for issuing permits to Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc..

Aside from Guo, the Ombudsman also suspended Edwin Ocampo, the municipality’s business and licensing officer, and municipal legal officer Adenn Sigua.

According to the DILG complaint which was granted by the Ombudsman, Guo and the two other officials allowed the issuance of a permit to Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc. despite it not meeting the necessary requirements.

The DILG filed charges of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service against Guo, Ocampo, and Sigua.

On March 13, authorities raided a 10-hectare area operated by Zun  Yuan Technology Inc. and found several devices said to be linked to POGO operations.

Rescued during the raid were  600 Filipinos and foreigners.

The place was previously raided in 2023 when it was operated by Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc., which is now being linked to Guo.

The mayor reportedly applied for the letter of no objection for the complex’s license to operate.

Guo, whose nationality as a Filipino is being questioned by lawmakers, was also found to be the incorporator of Baofu Land  Development Inc., which owns the land where the complex — home to over  36 buildings, a swimming pool, and luxury cars — is located.

A committee in the Senate is also conducting an investigation into Guo’s alleged  ties with POGO, as well as her identity, over the possibility that she is a Chinese spy trained to infiltrate the Philippine government.

Guo denied links to the POGO operation and reiterated that she is not a Chinese spy.