Ombudsman sacks Guo

(UPDATES) THE Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of Alice Guo as mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, finding her guilty of grave misconduct, in a decision approved Monday by Ombudsman Samuel Martires.

«Guo's purchase of individual agricultural lots and consolidating and having them reclassified as residential and commercial lots; to the formation of Baofu, Hongsheng, and Zun Yuan; to throwing her hat in the mayoralty race, all point to the fact that she carefully planned, orchestrated and masterminded the POGO (Philippine offshore gaming operator) operations in Bamban, Tarlac,» the decision said.

The Ombudsman said Guo's acts, such as her involvement in the raided POGO hub in Bamban, showed a «willful intent on her part to violate the law or disregard established rules.»

«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 read.

The penalty of dismissal comes with forfeiture of retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification from government service.

If the penalty of dismissal can no longer be enforced, it can be turned into a fine equal to Guo's salary for one year.

«It shall be understood that the accessory penalties attached to the principal penalty of dismissal shall continue to be imposed,» the decision read.

In the same decision, the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the three-month suspension of the following as it found them guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service: Business Permit and Licensing Officer Edwin Campo, Municipal Legal Officer Adenn Sigua, Leonardo Anunciacion, Johny Sales, Jayson Galang, Nikko Balilo, Ernesto Salting, Jose Salting Jr., Robin Mangiliman, Jose Casmo Aguilar, Mary Andrei Lacsamana, and Ranier Rivera.

If the suspension can no longer be enforced, it can be turned into a fine equivalent to their salary for three months.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) issued Guo a subpoena directing her to personally appear before the Comelec Law Department for the preliminary investigation of the material misrepresentation case filed against her.

The subpoena was served by Elmo Duque,