MANILA, Philippines — Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday warned against lifting Bamban Mayor Alice Guo’s preventive suspension, fearing that doing so would further enable the mayor to influence the testimonies of people who worked under her.
“Delikado iyan, delikado na malift iyong preventive suspension dahil gusto natin pati iyong mga nagtatrabaho sa municipal hall ng Bamban magsalita,” Gatchalian told reporters in a Kapihan sa Senado forum.
(It’s dangerous to lift her preventive suspension because we also want those who work at the municipal hall of Bamban to speak.)
“Kapag nandyan siya obviously, pwede niyang impluwensyahan iyan, kaya importante na patuloy ang kanilang preventive suspension habang nagiimbestiga ang mga enforcement agencies [tulad ng] Senate kasama na ang ibang ahensya,” he explained.
(If she is at the city hall, obviously, she can influence the people there. So, it is important that her preventive suspension continues while enforcement agencies such as the Senate and other agencies investigate.)
While the senator expressed opposition against lifting Guo’s preventive suspension, he said he was convinced that it would not be granted.
According to Gatchalian, he has read the Ombudsman’s order and the Department of Interior and Local Government’s petition, emphasizing that both stand strong on legal grounds.
Despite this, he maintained his stance against lifting the suspension, noting that it was a natural tendency for employees to be “very careful” when talking, especially when their boss is around.
Guo, due to her alleged ties to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, has been placed under a six-month preventive suspension without pay by the Office of the Ombudsman.
Rejecting this decision, Guo and her team filed a motion for reconsideration on Thursday, asking the office to lift the preventive suspension imposed against her.
READ: Suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo appeals Ombudsman order