Ombudsman orders dismissal of Guo

MANILA, Philippines — Still in hiding after being ordered detained by the Senate, Mayor Alice Guo of Bamban, Tarlac has been ordered dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman for grave misconduct.

The 25-page decision signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires on Aug. 12 also perpetually disqualified Guo from public office and ordered the forfeiture of all her retirement benefits.

Bamban Vice Mayor Leonardo Asuncion, business permit and licensing officer (BPLO) Edwin Ocampo and municipal legal officer Adenn Sigua were found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and suspended for three months.

Also found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service were former and incumbent members of the Sangguniang Bayan or municipal council: Johnny Sales, Jayson Galang, Nikko Balilo, Ernesto Salting, Jose Salting Jr., Robin Mangiliman, Jose Aguilar, Mary Andrei Lacsamana and Ranier Rivera.

For those who are no longer in office, the penalty is convertible to a fine equivalent to their salary for three months, which may be deducted from their retirement benefits, accrued leave credits or any receivables from their office.

The ombudsman’s Field Investigation Bureau-Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices has been ordered to implement the dismissal order against Guo and report to the central office within five days regarding the implementation.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) was ordered to look into the possibility of filing appropriate charges against former Bamban mayor Jose Antonio Feliciano, who was not included in the complaint against Guo and the others.

It was last May when the DILG lodged a complaint before the ombudsman against Guo and several officials of Bamban. The complaint stemmed from Guo’s issuance of business permit to POGO firm Zun Yuan Technology Inc. which had its business operations inside the eight-hectare property in Bamban owned by Baufo Land Development Inc.

The DILG said its investigation as well as results of the raid conducted by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) revealed that Zun Yuan was involved in various illegal activities.

Despite this, the DILG said,