Ombudsman suggests DILG file a complaint against Guo

After the Department of the Interior and Local Government recommended that the Office of the Ombudsman issue a preventive suspension order on Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, Ombudsman Samuel Martires said that the DILG had written to him, but what his office received was a fact-finding report which said nothing about what needed to be done.

According to Jonathan Andal's Sunday 24 Oras Weekend report, Martires also said the copy of the DILG report they received was unsigned.

The Ombudsman would thus ask the DILG to file a complaint with all the necessary documents so they could examine and investigate the allegations made against Guo.

Last Friday, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said his department created a task force to look into Guo's alleged links to the illegal activities of a Philippine offshore gaming operator in her town. 

"Based on the [task force's] report, there are troubling findings of serious illegal acts which may have severe legal implications," said Abalos.

He added that the DILG recommended that the Ombudsman preventively suspend Guo to prevent any influence on the continuing investigations by government agencies, adding that the DILG "does not have the power to directly suspend or dismiss local officials."

NPC

Meanwhile, Tarlac Governor Susan Yap said she did not know Guo before the latter became Bamban Mayor.

Yap added that she did speak with Guo once. This was after the issues against Guo surfaced and the mayor was distraught over the Senate investigation.

"The first time I saw her... she was crying, and she was saying, you know, 'Natatakot ako.' Siyempre iba yung senado. 'Kaya ko bang harapin?' recounted the Governor.

“You just try to be truthful. Prepare your documents,” Yap responded.

Yap and Guo are members of the Nationalist People's Coalition or NPC.

According to their party chairman, former Senator Tito Sotto, there was no discussion of expelling Guo from the NPC.

"As I said, we will leave it to the chairman of the party in the province na nasasakupan," said Sotto.

The Senate hearings on the alleged illegal POGOs in Bamban will continue on Wednesday.

According to Guo's lawyer, the Mayor will attend the hearings. — DVM, GMA Integrated News