DILG revokes Mayor Guo's authority over Bamban police

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday revoked Bamban Mayor Alice Guo's authority over her town's police force. 

In Ian Cruz’s 24 Oras report, the DILG said it also submitted a fact-finding report on the allegation of Guo’s involvement in the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Bamban.

“Hindi po namin pwedeng idetalye exactly yung findings namin, pero we can say in general, we found serious legal implications,” Interior Undersecretary Lord Villanueva told reports. “Ang pwedeng parusa is suspension or pwede ring dismissal from public service.”

(We cannot reveal the details of our findings, but we can say in general, we found serious legal implications. The possible penalties include suspension or it can be dismissal from public service.)

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said his department’s findings on Guo would be used to file a case with the Ombudsman.

“We cannot dismiss, we cannot suspend, wala kaming preventive suspension. So binigay na namin for proper disposition, if this is what the Ombudsman wants,” Abalos said. 

(We cannot dismiss, we cannot suspend, we cannot preventively suspend. So we handed it over for proper disposition,  if this is what the Ombudsman wants.)

The Office of the Solicitor General was also conducting a fact-finding inquiry on Guo, which they deemed “high priority.”

Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra earlier said his office would file a quo warranto petition if there were grounds to question Guo’s right to hold public office.

GMA Integrated News had sought comment from Guo, and her legal representatives said they would seek the Mayor's permission to issue a statement.

In her statement on Monday, Guo denied involvement in the illegal POGO activities in her town. — Mariel Celine Serquiña /DVM, GMA Integrated News