MANILA (4th UPDATE) — The Office of the Ombudsman has put officials of Bamban, Tarlac — including controversial Mayor Alice Guo — on preventive suspension of up to six months pending the results of an investigation into a complaint filed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government over illegal activities at a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator complex in the town.

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission raided the Baofu POGO compound in Bamban in March over reports of human trafficking and illegal detention by gaming operator Zun Yuan Technology there.

Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc., a POGO inside the same compound and whose license had been cancelled months prior, had already been raided in February for alleged crypto scam operations.

The March raid has led to scrutiny of the Baofu POGO compound and of Mayor Guo herself amid doubts raised on her citizenship.

EXCLUSIVE: Bamban Mayor Guo says she will ban POGOs

In a nine-page order, Ombudsman Samuel Martires ordered Guo, Business Permit and Licensing Officer Edwin Ocampo and Municipal Legal Officer Adenn Sigua put on preventive suspension to keep them from interfering in the investigation into the following raps filed by DILG: 

- Grave Misconduct

- Serious Dishonesty

- Gross Neglect of Duty

- Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service

Apart from the three, incumbent and former vice mayors and incumbent and former members were named as respondents in the complaints filed by the DILG.

In a statement, Guo acknowledged receipt of the suspension order and said she will cooperate with authorities.

"Ako po ay sumasang-ayon sa proseso ng batas, at tinatanggap ang pasya ng Ombudsman, pero ilalaban ko ang aking kaso," she said.

(I am complying with the legal process and accept the Ombudsman's decision, but I will fight this case.)

She also thanked her supporters, saying they have given her confidence to face the complaints filed against her.

"Nais ko ring iparating na wala akong kasalanan at tapat akong nagsilbi sa ating bayan at mamamayan," Guo said.

She added that she feels she has been prejudged and had not been given the chance to defend herself in ongoing proceedings into her and the POGO operations in her town.

Guo also claimed that this has violated her rights as a person as well as her rights as an elected official.

BAOFU LINKS

According to the Ombudsman's order, which cited DILG findings, Guo bought eight parcels of land in 2019 that would later be used by Baofu Land Development Inc., which she represented as its president.

Guo also represented Baofu in applying for documents for it to operate but claims she divested from the company before she became mayor.

A DILG task force that looked into the Baufo case found that the municipal government issued Zun Yuan Technology a business permit on October 25, 2022 despite the firm not submitting a Fire Safety Inspection Certificate and Affidavit of Undertaking.

EXCLUSIVE: Guo denies being a Chinese spy: 'I am a Filipino, I love my country'

SENATORS WELCOME SUSPENSION

Sen. Win Gatchalian, among the first to flag possible irregularities in Bamban, called Guo's suspension "a move in the right direction, allowing authorities to investigate freely without fear of a cover-up while she is in office."

Gatchalian, who has long been calling for the banning of POGOs, said that the Ombudsman's investigation will not mean that he and his colleagues will let up in an ongoing probe at the Senate.

"Even with the filing of charges against Mayor Guo, the Senate remains committed in fleshing out details relating to the establishment of a POGO hub in her town that we suspected to be involved in transnational crimes such as money laundering and human trafficking," he said.

In a separate statement, Sen. Risa Hontiveros — chair of the Senate committee conducting hearings on Baofu and on human trafficking at POGOs and "scam centers" — said it was "only right" that Guo and the two other town officials have been suspended.

"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," she said on Monday.

Hontiveros said that Guo "undoubtably" has ties to POGO operations despite claims that she has divested from Baofu.

 "Let us not forget, this is a POGO with alleged hacking and surveillance activities. POGO na puro scams, krimen, at human trafficking ang dala sa bansa (A POGO that has only brought scams, crime and human trafficking to our country)," she said. — from a report by Robert Mano, ABS-CBN News

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