Ombudsman upholds suspension of Bamban mayor amid POGOs, trafficking allegations

The Office of the Ombudsman has upheld the six-month preventive suspension of Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo and two other officials following a complaint from the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Lawyer Stephen David, representing Mayor Guo, expressed respect for but disagreement with the decision while indicating plans to file a petition for certiorari before the Court of Appeals.

The preventive suspension, which began on May 31 amid allegations involving unlicensed POGOs and human trafficking activities, was reaffirmed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires in an order dated June 21.

David noted that Guo's camp will raise their appeal to lift the six-month preventive suspension against her to the Court of Appeals after the Office of the Ombudsman junked their bid.

Guo's camp also plans to pursue cyber libel cases against those allegedly defaming her and considers the preventive suspension as part of political harassment.

The Ombudsman emphasized that preventive suspension is not a penalty but rather a preliminary measure to prevent potential witness tampering or record manipulation during an ongoing investigation.