The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the permanent dismissal of suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo due to grave misconduct.
In a 25-page decision, the Ombudsman ruled that Guo would not receive any retirement benefits and is barred from holding any government position in the future.
According to the Ombudsman, Guo’s involvement in a raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in her area demonstrated 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 Ombudsman added.
Based on a complaint filed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Guo and other local officials are accused of “grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.”
Guo remains elusive as the Senate seeks to serve her a subpoena following her repeated absences from committee hearings investigating the POGO operations in the country.
On Tuesday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) also issued a subpoena against Guo in relation to a complaint of material misrepresentation filed against her.
A petition has also been filed in a Manila court seeking her removal from office, with accusations that Guo provided false information about her true identity.
Reports and information from a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) study revealed that Guo’s real name is Guo Hua Ping, a Chinese national, and not a Filipino.
Guo’s fingerprints allegedly match those of the Chinese passport holder Guo Hua Ping.
Additionally, Guo is facing human trafficking charges at the Department of Justice related to the raided POGO hub.