Alice Guo
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will “immediately execute” the perpetual disqualification of Bamban Mayor Alice Guo from holding public office, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said on Wednesday.
He made the pronouncement after the Office of the Ombudsman found Guo guilty of grave misconduct, meriting a “dismissal from service with forfeiture of all her retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification to re-enter government service.”
READ: Ombudsman orders dismissal of Alice Guo over Pogo links
“[Under] RA (Republic Act) 6717, ang decision ng Ombudsman ay (the decision of the Ombudsman is) executory immediately in administrative cases, although it may not be final but it is already executory,” Garcia explained at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay briefing.
He also explained that the Court of Appeals may issue a temporary restraining order against the Ombudsman’s decision if Guo and other respondents appeal.
“In the meantime, immediately executory ‘yung decision ng Ombudsman lalo na ‘yung perpetual disqualification to hold public office,” he said.
(In the meantime, the decision of the Ombudsman is immediately executory, especially the perpetual disqualification to hold public office.)
“‘Pag perpetually disqualified to hold public office, ini-implement ng Comelec, ibig sabihin makakapag-file sila ng candidacy pero amin po siyang administratively kina-cancel,” he added.
(When they are perpetually disqualified to hold public office, the Comelec implements it, which means they could still file a candidacy but we cancel it administratively.)
In a 25-page order publicized on Tuesday, the Office of the Ombudsman dismissed and perpetually disqualified Guo following investigations into her alleged links to the Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub in Bamban.
Before the release of the decision, the Ombudsman suspended Guo after the Department of Interior and Local Government filed complaints stemming from “troubling findings of serious illegal acts which may have severe legal implications” involving Guo and her alleged connection to illegal activities in the Pogo hub.