Alice Guo’s camp to appeal Ombudsman’s dismissal order

May 22 2024
Bamban Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo appears before the Senate as Sen. Risa Hontiveros flagged Guo’s alleged ties to Chinese “criminals” during a hearing in July 2024.
INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — The camp of former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo is planning to file a motion for reconsideration before the Office of the Ombudsman over its earlier decision to dismiss her from government service, according to her legal counsel Stephen David.

David revealed this in a text message on Wednesday when asked for Guo’s reaction to the Ombudsman’s order.

“Well, it is unfortunate that the Office of the Ombudsman did not see the merit of the argument of the respondent mayor,” the lawyer said.

“Nonetheless, we are preparing for the motion for reconsideration as a prerequisite for filing an appeal with the Court of Appeals,” he added.

READ: Alice Guo replaced by councilor as Tarlac town mayor

Based on a 25-page order released to the media on Tuesday, Guo was found guilty of grave misconduct, meriting “dismissal from service with forfeiture of all her retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification to re-enter government service.”

On the other hand, Municipal Business Permits and Licensing Office officer Edwin Campo and Municipal Legal Officer Adenn Sigua, along with 10 others, were found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service, resulting in a suspension of three months.

Replacing Guo as Bamban’s mayor is councilor Erano Timbang, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said in an ambush interview.

Abalos said Timbang will take the post of Guo temporarily since Bamban Vice Mayor Leonardo Anunciacion, the next in line of succession, was suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman for three months.

Timbang took oath before Abalos in Camp Crame in Quezon City also on Wednesday.

Aside from her dismissal, Guo, along with Jack Uy, and Rachelle Joan Malonzo Carreon, the Corporate Secretary of Baofu Land Development Inc. (Baofu), is facing a tax evasion complaint lodged by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) earlier Wednesday.

In an interview, BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said the criminal complaint follows Guo’s admission that she transferred her shares in Baofu to Uy. The investigation also showed that no Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and Documentary Stamp Tax (DST) returns were filed and paid concerning this transfer.

The three will be facing criminal complaints for violating the Tax Code’s (National Internal Revenue Code of 1997) Section 254  (Attempt to Evade or Defeat Tax), Section 255 (Failure to File CGT and DST Returns).

Meanwhile, Carreon will also face a complaint for violating the Tax Code’s Section 250 (Failure to File/Supply Certain Information), the BIR said.

In a separate statement, the BIR said it is currently auditing the entire business operations of Guo, linked to the Senate hearings on her alleged ties to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators in her town.

“Due process will be given to Guo, however, if she fails to pay her tax deficiencies, the BIR will proceed to file another criminal case for tax evasion,” it added.