Municipal councilor appointed as temporary acting mayor of Bamban, Tarlac

Transcript

00:00With the dismissal order of the local chief executive and suspension of the vice mayor and city councillors of Bamban, Tarlac,

00:07in connection with the presence of illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators or POGOs,

00:12only one local official was deemed fit to take over as mayor.

00:16Who that official is and why he was the lone choice, Patrick De Jesus reveals in this report.

00:23The new acting mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, has formally taken his oath of office

00:30after the Ombudsman dismissal order on former Mayor Alice Guo

00:35due to grave misconduct related to her involvement with POGOs.

00:40He is Councillor Eranyo Timbang, a member of the Bamban Municipal Council.

00:46Timbang's appointment aims to prevent a leadership vacuum

00:50and to ensure continued government service to the residents,

00:54especially since the vice mayor is suspended for three months along with the remaining council members.

01:01It is important to provide direct service to the public,

01:06so that there is no vacuum.

01:08Because you need to pay the employees, the water, etc. and the online permits.

01:14It can be noted that Timbang was the only one exonerated in the Ombudsman case,

01:21given his opposing stance, the only one in the council,

01:25against the raided POGO compound where Guo is linked.

01:29According to Timbang, he has been against having a POGO in their area from the start.

01:59Even if it's wrong, even if it's wrong, it's right.

02:05The DILG will form a screening committee to temporarily fill out the five vacant positions

02:11while three will be elected by the local party.

02:14Secretary Abalos welcomes the Ombudsman decision regarding Guo

02:19and hopes that the supporters of the removed mayor will respect it.

02:24We are praying for the court's decision because we know that a democracy is based on justice

02:33and justice is the basis of the law.

02:36This went through the process, we are just praying for it.

02:39The secretary added the decision on Guo should serve as a warning to other LGU officials

02:45involved in POGO and illegal activities.

02:49They said that your privilege as a mayor is great but your responsibility is also great

02:55so you should be twice as careful.

02:57That's what we should be aware of.

03:01The Commission on Elections will continue its investigation against Guo.

03:06This is despite the final decision of the Office of the Ombudsman.

03:10She was also disqualified from holding any government position.

03:15Yesterday, Gomelec served the subpoena to Guo at the office of the mayor of Bambang.

03:20This is related to the complaint of misrepresentation concerning the certificate of candidacy she submitted.

03:28Guo is given 10 days to respond to the complaint against her.

03:33Gomelec served in the law department with the original office of the subpoena.

03:40Gomelec received a formal notice from the respondent, Mayor Alice Guo,

03:43that she was charged with misrepresentation,

03:46and she was sentenced to six years in prison.