Following the preventive suspension of Mayor Alice Guo, the acting mayor and acting vice mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, have assumed the posts formally.
Municipal transactions in Bamban continue as usual despite Guo's suspension along with Business Permit and Licensing Officer Edwin Ocampo, and Legal Officer Atty. Adden Sigua.
Vice Mayor Leonardo Anunciacion has assumed the role of acting mayor while First Councilor Erny Timbang has taken on the role of acting vice mayor.
Although they haven't received any official memo yet, they were briefed personally by the Municipal Local Government Operations Officer.
"[We followed the] rule of succession. May special session kami sa Friday para lahat ng resolution na urgent, ‘yung payroll ng mga empleyado, at iba pang pangangangailan ay mapirmahan ng acting mayor – lalo sa bangko, sa payroll ng mga empleyado," Erny Timbang, the acting vice mayor, said.
On June 4, 2024, Anunciacion met with department heads. He urged them to ensure that projects and transactions within the local government unit (LGU) continue smoothly.
"Kung ano ‘yung mga naka-line up na activities, na programa, mga projects, ay rest assured ni acting mayor na lahat maibigay pa rin ‘yung karampatang serbisyo," Cherrylyn Pascua, Bamban Senior Tourism Operations Officer, said.
A temporary head will also be appointed for the Business Permit and Licensing Office while Ocampo is suspended.
The celebration of Bamban's founding anniversary, scheduled from June 6 to June 8, will reportedly not be affected.
RECONSIDERATION
Guo's camp is set to file on June 6 a motion for reconsideration with a motion to lift the suspension.
"Because we have the legal grounds on our motion, and we are backed up with the documents that we need. Tomorrow, we’ll be filing together with all the evidence that we have," Atty. Nicole Jamilla, Guo's lawyer, said.
The suspension stemmed from complaints from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) against the three officials due to grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service related to the illegal operation of a POGO hub behind the Bamban Municipal Hall.
On May 21, Guo issued an official statement saying she does not have any involvement in the illegal operations of POGO and is not a spy for any country.