Alice Guo鈥檚 suspension as mayor of Bamban town in Tarlac was welcomed by at least three senators, namely, Sherwin Gatchalian (left), Risa Hontiveros (center), and Joel Villanueva (right). The Office of the Ombudsman placed Guo and two other municipal officials under preventive suspension without pay for a period not exceeding six months. The Ombudsman鈥檚 suspension order on Guo and two others was dated May 31, 2024.| PHOTOS: Senate PRIB
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Three senators rejoiced on Monday about the suspension of Bamban Mayor Alice Guo over her alleged link to illegal offshore gaming operations in the country.
鈥淒apat lang,鈥� opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros said in a statement when asked for comment on the Office of the Ombudsman鈥檚 order placing Guo and two other Bamban town officials under preventive suspension without pay for a period not exceeding six months.
The senator pointed out that she had already called for the mayor鈥檚 suspension when she and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian inspected a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) hub in Tarlac on April 24.
鈥淲e also received information that she tried to obstruct the ongoing investigation immediately after the Pogo was raided,鈥� Hontiveros said, referring to Zun Yuan Technology Inc., which authorities raided on March 13.
鈥淭his should have already warranted a suspension. We only hope this is not too late,鈥� the Senate committee on women chairperson added.
She also reminded that the same Pogo was linked to alleged hacking and surveillance activities, which she had exposed during a Senate panel hearing.
READ: Alice Guo鈥檚 suspected mother, father left PH on May 20, says Gatchalian
On Wednesday, June 5, the Senate committee on women will hold an executive session to further probe into Guo鈥檚 alleged connection with Zun Yuan Technology Inc.
鈥淚 look forward to our executive session soon. Inaasahan ko na mas lalong maliliwanagan tayo sa totoong papel ni Alice Guo hindi lang sa mga Pogo, kundi pati sa mga banta sa ating pambansang seguridad,鈥� she said.
(I look forward to our executive session soon. I expect we will be further enlightened about Alice Guo鈥檚 true role in the Pogos and the threats to our national security.)
Gatchalian, for his part, considered the Ombudsman鈥檚 decision as a 鈥渕ove in the right direction,鈥� saying this would allow authorities to investigate 鈥渇reely without fear of a cover-up while [Guo] is in office.鈥�
鈥淎ny government officials suspected of any wrongdoing should be thoroughly investigated and held liable if found guilty,鈥� he pointed out in another statement.
鈥淎ll elected and appointed government officials and personnel should adhere to the highest ethical standards and conduct themselves with integrity, accountability, and fairness,鈥� he added.
Despite the charges against the mayor,聽 Gatchalian said the Senate will continue to flesh out details regarding establishing a Pogo hub in the mayor鈥檚 town.
He and other senators suspect that the Pogo hub in Bamban was also involved in transnational crimes such as money laundering and human trafficking.
READ: Bamban Mayor Alice Guo: 鈥業 will not resign鈥�
While commending the suspension order against the mayor, Senator Joel Villanueva renewed his call on government agencies to 鈥渟tep up their game鈥� against illegal Pogos.
鈥淭o begin with, even us here in Congress, we鈥檝e been calling for the banning of Pogos,鈥� Villanueva said in a press briefing at the Senate.
鈥淚 sound like a broken record for the past six, seven years asking the government agencies to look into this,鈥� he lamented.
The senator then asked the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to 鈥渨alk the extra mile鈥� and immediately remove Pogos from communities.
It was the DILG that recommended the suspension of Guo and two others for supposedly allowing illegal聽 Pogos to do business in Bamban, a town in聽 Tarlac province.
The DILG has also filed several complaints, including graft, against Guo and other municipal officials before the Office of the聽 Ombudsman.
NOTE: The English translations in the article were AI-generated.