Solicitor General forms team to probe Bamban Mayor Guo

FILE PHOTO: Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines—The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has organized a team to determine if Bamban Mayor Alice Guo has the legal right to hold a public position.

Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said the team was created last week.

“We are presently coordinating with various agencies,” Guevarra told INQUIRER.net.

He said coordination with various agencies is meant to gather “relevant facts and information” regarding the case of the Tarlac town mayor.

READ: Bamban mayor denies ties to raided Pogo firm in Tarlac

According to Guevarra, the OSG is coordinating with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Department of Education (DepEd), and the Bureau of Immigration.

A quo warranto, which means “by what authority,” is a special civil action to determine if an individual has the right to exercise or hold a public office. As to a corporation, to determine if it has the right to enjoy a franchise. If it is proven that an individual or entity is not eligible for such a right or privilege, they will be removed from office or stripped of the advantage that they enjoy.

READ: Senators probe Tarlac Pogo for ‘spy ops’; mayor grilled

Under Rule 66 of the Rules of Court, the Solicitor General or a public prosecutor may initiate the action for quo warranto upon the orders of the President of the Philippines or on his initiative.

In this case, the Solicitor General said, “We are doing this upon our own initiative as counsel for the State.”

An investigation into Guo began after documents showed that Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) Zun Yuan Technology’s electric meter was registered under her name.

A sports utility vehicle registered under Guo’s name was also found within the compound of the Pogo.

Last March, authorities raided the Zun Yuan compound and rescued 499 foreign workers.