Controversial Mayor Alice Guo of Bamban, Tarlac
AFTER being suspended and graft charges filed before the courts, suspended Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo faces additional legal troubles as new charges are being prepared against her, said Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) spokesperson Winston Casio in a chance interview at the Department of Justice (DOJ) headquarters in Manila.
Casio revealed that tax evasion charges are among the new allegations being considered.
“We believe the amount involved is significant, though we cannot quantify it at this time. Guo’s lifestyle suggests a considerable sum,” Casio said in Filipino.
Other potential charges include violations of the Securities and Regulations Code and administrative cases.
Meanwhile, Casio welcomed Guo’s suspension, saying it would facilitate access to essential records and documents for the investigation.
“This suspension will help us access the municipal office and obtain the necessary records and documents,” Casio said.
The Marcos administration is determined to clamp down on unlawful POGO operators, Casio vowed.
“The current administration is relentless in addressing POGO-related issues. More operations targeting illegal POGO activities are forthcoming,” he said.
Guo, suspended for six months by the Ombudsman, is already under scrutiny following graft complaints filed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) regarding her alleged involvement with a raided POGO in her area.
The DILG had filed a formal complaint against Guo with the Office of the Ombudsman, stemming from her issuance of a permit to Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc., despite the company’s failure to meet the requirements and possessing an expired license from PAGCOR.
