Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo. Photo from Mayor Alice Leal Guo Facebook

BAMBAN, Tarlac (UPDATED) — Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo skipped Monday's flag-raising ceremony at the municipal hall. It has been a week since Guo was last seen publicly.

Municipal employees and supporters of Guo gathered outside the building minutes before the flag-raising ceremony to express their support for the mayor

Guo's absence at the ceremony comes days after the Department of the Interior and Local Government recommended to the Office of the Ombudsman Guo's suspension over her alleged links to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) operations in her town.

READ: DILG urges Ombudsman to suspend Bamban mayor

At the sidelines of the ceremony, Bamban’s public information officer told ABS-CBN News that the mayor was in a meeting and was busy preparing for the town’s Foundation Day on June 5.

The highest local official present was Bamban Vice Mayor Leonardo Anunciacion who expressed support for the embattled mayor.

Anunciacion told the media that despite the mayor’s physical absence, the local government continues to serve and function.

"'Yung mga department heads niya, sila ang gumaganap ng mga gawain sa munisipyo, not me. Because the vice mayor and the council, ang aming posisyon ay we separate the legislator and the executive. So ok naman, nakikita ko, yung kaniyang mga department heads ay ok naman yung operation," he said.

(Her department heads continue to perform their duties. The vice mayor and the council, our position as legislators is separate from the executive. The operations remain OK.)

ANUNCIACION VOUCHES FOR GUO

Photo by Raphael Bosano, ABS-CBN News

Anunciacion was Bamban mayor from 2001 to 2004. It was during this period he says he first encountered a then 12 to 14-year-old Alice Guo.

At the time, Anunciacion added, Guo's father applied for a permit for a piggery in Barangay Virgen Delos Remedios.

Anunciacion is hopeful that their leader could overcome the challenges she faces.

“Ang isang nanunungkulan, minsan hindi natin maalis ang problema. Pero ang problema, may solusyon. Para sa akin ha, basta tama ang ginagawa mo, may solusyon,” Anunciacion said.

(A public servant will always encounter problems. But every problem has a solution. For me, as long as you’re doing the right thing, there will always be a solution.)

“Hindi ka na-giisa mayora. Mahal ka ng taumbayan kaya bilang isang supporter, partner, vice mayor, hindi kita bibitawan hanggang sa dulo ng kamatayan,” the official also said.

(You are not alone, mayor. The people of this town love you. And as a supporter, your partner, your vice mayor, I will support you until the very end.)

SUPPORTERS CHALLENGE SENATORS

Following the flag-raising ceremony, a program was held to show support for Guo.

Local leaders spoke of how Guo has helped them and how they are willing to support her.

Oscar Rivera, an Aeta leader, challenged senators who questioned Guo’s background.

“Hinahamon ko nga ang buong Senado at Congress. Ipatawag kaming mga Aeta, kami ang haharap. Ang hamon ko sa kanila, 'wag naman nilang maliitin ang aming mayora. Sapagkat ang aming mayora, kami ang nagboto. Buong tao ng Bamban,” he said.

(I challenge the Senate and Congress. Summon the Aeta’s and we will be there. I also challenge them to not belittle our mayor because she was voted into office by the people of Bamban.)

Rivera said he is also dismayed at President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s statement that he does not know Guo.

“Bigla akong nagtaka sa sinabi niya na hindi niya kilala ang aming Mayor. Isang presidente hindi ka ba nagreresearch sa buong Pilipinas kung ilan ang iyong mayor. Nakakapagtaka po talaga.”

(I am baffled that he does not know our mayor. You are the president of the country, don’t you research how many mayors the country has? I’m dumbfounded.)

Aside from Rivera, other groups like those of senior citizens also braved the heat to show support to their leader, opposing calls to suspend Guo.

“Hindi pupuwede yun. Pag ginawa nila yun, hindi lang po dito ang rally, pati po sa Malacanang. Gagawin namin yan, buong Aeta magaaklas laban sa pamahalaan natin,” Rivera said.

(That cannot happen. If they do that the rallies won’t just happen here but also in Malacanang Palace. We will do that, the whole Aeta community will challenge the government.)

Following the raid of a POGO in Bamban in April, Guo has been questioned by the Senate and even cast doubt on her identity when she failed to remember some details of her past.

She is set to face senators again on Wednesday. 

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday recommended removing authority over police in her town.

Under National Police Commission rules, governors and mayors are deputized as Napolcom representatives when elected.

Among their powers are functions are exercising operational supervision and control over police units and personnel in their jurisdictions as well as choosing the local chief of police, according to Napolcom Memorandum Circular 99-010.

Deputation can be suspended or withdrawn for frequent unauthorized absences, abuse of authority, providing material support to criminals, and "engaging in acts inimical to national security" or that hamper the government's peace and order campaign, according .