The Office of the Ombudsman ordered the preventive suspension of controversial Bamban (Tarlac) Mayor Alice Guo in reaction to the filing of administrative charges against her by the Department of Interior and Local Government on May 24.



Also suspended by the anti-graft body were Edwin Ocampo, head of the Bamban business permits and licensing office and Adenn Sigua, municipal legal officer.



The Ombudsman preventive suspension order will run for a maximum of six months. It was imposed to ensure the fair investigation of the graft charges against the Bamban officials.



Ombudsman Samuel Martires issued the preventive suspension order on May 31 after finding “sufficient grounds to preventively suspend Guo and the two other local officials. Martieres said “there is strong evidence showing their guilt.”



The DILG filed the criminal complaints in connection with the issuance by the Bamban municipality of business permits to Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc. which has been linked to various unlawful activities conducted through cyberspace.



DILG Undersecretary Juan Victor Llamas said the firm was allowed to operate notwithstanding its failure to meet necessary requirements to do business in Bamban.



According to the complaint, Hongsheng operated a POGO hub despite the expiration of the license issued by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.



Llamas said the DILG filed charges of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service against the three respondents.



Guo’s Filipino citizenship has also been placed in serious doubt as she continued to fail to convince a Senate probe that she is indeed a citizens of the Philippines.