Ombudsman orders dismissal of Alice Guo over Pogo links | INQToday

Summary

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of Mayor Alis Go for alleged connections with an illegal offshore gaming operator in her town. The 25-page order cites grave misconduct, leading to dismissal, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and a permanent ban from government service. Additionally, 12 officials, including Edwin Campo and Aden Siga, face a 3-month suspension for conduct prejudicial to service. Complaints from the Department of Interior and Local Government led to a May 31 suspension order. The DG 7 man task force reported serious illegal acts with severe legal implications, while the Philippine National Police and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission filed a human trafficking case against Go, linked to around 500 foreign workers. A Senate panel is also investigating Go's ties to the gaming industry.

Takeaways

• 🏢 The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of Mayor Alis Go due to investigations into her alleged connections with an illegal offshore gaming operator.
• 📜 A 25-page Ombudsman order was released, detailing the findings that led to the dismissal of Mayor Go.
• 🚫 Mayor Go was found guilty of grave misconduct, which resulted in her dismissal, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification from government service.
• 👥 Edwin Campo and Aden Siga, along with 10 others, were found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service and received a 3-month suspension.
• 📅 The suspension of Mayor Go was ordered in June, following complaints filed by the Department of Interior and Local Government.
• 🔎 Ombudsman Samuel Martz stated there were sufficient grounds for the preventive suspension of Go and two other town officials based on strong evidence of their guilt.
• 📊 The DG 7 man task force reported serious illegal acts with potential legal implications related to Mayor Go and her alleged connection to illegal POGO activities.
• 👮‍♂️ The Philippine National Police and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission filed a human trafficking case against Go for her alleged involvement in trafficking around 500 foreign POGO workers.
• 🏛️ A Senate panel has been investigating Mayor Go's supposed ties with POGO, and on July 10, the Senate Committee on Women cited her for contempt and ordered her arrest for skipping a hearing.
• 📝 The script highlights the ongoing legal and political ramifications of the alleged illegal activities and connections of local officials with offshore gaming operations.

Q & A

Who was ordered to be dismissed from service according to the transcript?

Mayor Alis Go was ordered to be dismissed from service.

What was the reason for Mayor Alis Go's dismissal?

Mayor Alis Go was found guilty of grave misconduct due to her alleged connections with an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator hub in her town.

What were the consequences of Mayor Alis Go's dismissal?

She faced dismissal from service with forfeiture of all her retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification to re-enter government service.

Who were the other officials found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service?

Edwin Campo, the officer at the Bamban Municipal Business Permits and Licensing Office, Aden Siga, the Bamban Municipal legal officer, and 10 others were found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service.

What was the consequence for Edwin Campo and Aden Siga?

They, along with 10 others, received a suspension of 3 months.

What action was taken by the utsman prior to the final order?

The utsman ordered a suspension of Mayor Alis Go following complaints filed by the Department of Interior and Local Government.

What evidence was presented to support the suspension of Mayor Alis Go and the other officials?

There was strong evidence showing their guilt, as reported by the DG 7 man task force, which found serious illegal acts with potential severe legal implications.

What other agencies were involved in the case against Mayor Alis Go?

The Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission were also involved.

What specific allegations were made against Mayor Alis Go by the Philippine National Police and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission?

They filed a qualified human trafficking case against Go for her alleged connection to the labor trafficking of around 500 foreign POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) workers.

What actions were taken by the Senate Committee on Women regarding Mayor Alis Go?

The Senate Committee on Women cited Go and others for contempt and ordered their arrest for skipping the chamber's hearing on the local officials' alleged ties to POGO.

What does 'Pogo' stand for and what is its relevance to the script?

POGO stands for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators. It is relevant as the script discusses the alleged illegal activities and connections of Mayor Alis Go and others to these operators.