Comelec: Acting officials to be appointed after dismissal of Alice Guo, 12 others

Acting officials will be appointed after the dismissal of Mayor Alice Guo and the suspension of 12 more officials in the municipal government of Bamban, Tarlac, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Wednesday.

“Kung sakali po siya ay matatanggal na talaga dahil sa desisyon ng Office of the Ombudsman, maliban na lamang kung magkaka-issue ng restraining order mula sa mataas na hukuman, ang papalit po ay yun pong vice mayor bilang epekto po ng tinatawag nating rule on succession,” Comelec chair George Garcia told Dobol B TV in an interview.

(In the event that she will be removed due to the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman, unless a restraining order is issued from the Supreme Court, the vice mayor will replace him as an effect of the rule on succession.)

However, aside from the dismissal of Guo, the Ombudsman also ordered three-month suspension of 12 other officials in the town including Vice Mayor Leonardo Anunciacion.

As a result, Garcia stated that the governor must appoint acting officials.

“Kung saka-sakali po, mag-a-appoint po ng pansamantala o [officer in charge] na maglilingkod dyan sa bayan ng Bamban. Hindi pupuwede na wala namang Sangguniang [Bayan]. Kung yan po ay mga involved na tao ay kinakailangan merong manunungkulan pa rin,” he said.

(In case, a temporary officer in charge will be appointed to serve there in the town of Bamban. It is not possible not to have a Sangguniang Bayan. If those are involved, it is necessary to have someone in the office.)

“Kung ang involved naman po ay mga department head o  mga opisyal ng mga departamento sa munisipyo, maglalagay din po muna ng mga OIC o acting capacity para po may magsilbi naman doon sa posisyon,” he added.

(If those involved are department heads or officials of municipal departments, OICs or officials in acting capacity will also be placed so that there are people who can serve in that position.)

Erano Timbang

Later in the day, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said that a municipal councilor is set to replace Guo.

Abalos said Municipal Councilor Erano Timbang will temporarily serve as the town mayor for three months. Timbang was acquitted by the anti-graft court for opposing the issuance of permit to the raided POGO firm in the municipality.

“Konsehal siya ng Sangguniang Bayan. Councilor siya pero nag-oppose nung kinukuha ang permit. Since he opposed, he was absolved or acquitted by the Ombudsman,” Abalos told reporters.

(He is a municipal councilor but he opposed the issuance of permit for the POGO firm. Since he opposed it, he was absolved by the Ombudsman.)

“Siya ngayon ang tatayong mayor for three months, kasi after three months tapos na ang vice mayor, by succession na ‘yan,” he said.

He would be the acting mayor for three months because the suspension of the vice mayor will end by then.)

Abalos said Timbang will take oath as acting mayor at Camp Crame in Quezon City on August 14. He also said he had already instructed the DILG regional director to submit a report on filling up the vacant posts amid the suspension of other local officials.

Dismissal

In a 25-page decision released to the media on Tuesday, the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of suspended Mayor Guo for grave misconduct.

The Ombudsman dismissed Guo from service with forfeiture of all her retirement benefits as well as perpetual disqualification from public office.

Guo’s acts such as her involvement in the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in her locality showed a “willful intent on her part to violate the law or disregard established rules," according to the Ombudsman.

“The series of acts are interconnected leaving no other conclusion than that they were committed by Guo with ulterior motive or self-interest,” the decision said.

This was based on the complaint filed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government accusing Guo and other local officials of committing grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

Aside from this, the Ombudsman also suspended for three months the following officials after they were found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service:

Bamban Vice Mayor Leonardo Anunciacion

Business Permit and Licensing Officer Edwin Ocampo

Municipal Legal Officer Adenn Sigua

Sangguniang Bayan member Johny Sales

Sangguniang Bayan member Jayson S. Galang

Sangguniang Bayan member Nikko T. Balilo

Sangguniang Bayan member Ernesto Salting

Sangguniang Bayan member Jose M. Salting Jr.

Sangguniang Bayan member Robin Mangiliman

Sangguniang Bayan member Jose Casmo Aguilar

Sangguniang Bayan member Mary Andrei Lacsamana, and 

Sangguniang Bayan member Ranier Rivera 

Material misrepresentation

In a separate interview, Garcia said Comelec will still pursue its material misrepresentation complaint against Guo.

“As far as the Comelec is concerned…ito pong aming kaso ay separate, independent, sa kaso ni Mayor Guo and therefore kahit siya ay dinismiss ng Ombudsman, magtutuloy-tuloy ang pag-try sa kasong yan,” Garcia told Kapihan sa Manila Bay. 

(As far as the Comelec is concerned… our case is separate. Despite the ruling, the case wil continue.)

The poll chief said Guo may still file a certificate of candidacy in the 2025 elections but it would be “administratively canceled” by the Comelec. 

“’Pag perpetually disqualified to hold public office, ito ay ini-implement ng Comelec. Ibig sabihin, makakapag-file sila ng certificate of candidacy pero amin siyang administratively kina-cancel… bilang pagrespeto sa ating Ombudsman at bilang pagkilala sa batas na nagsasabi na immediate and executory ang decision ng Ombudsman,” he added. 

(If a person is perpetually disqualified to hold public office, the Comelec implements that. We may accept her COC but we would administratively cancel it with respect to the Ombudsman and the law stating its decisions are immediate and executory.)

Comelec representatives on Tuesday visited Bamban to serve a subpoena against Guo as part of the preliminary investigation of her case. She was given ten days to file her answer.

--Joviland Rita with reports from Sundy Locus/ VAL, GMA Integrated News