TARLAC, Philippines – Had Alice Guo passed by the municipal hall of Bamban, Tarlac, on her way to the trial court in neighboring Capas on Friday, September 6, she would have seen the building now painted white.
The munisipyu used to be an attention-grabber, its exterior walls painted pink with margins of red — colors closely associated with the dismissed mayor.
This change in appearance signifies that the town is moving on, Acting Mayor Eraño Timbang told Rappler.
The events of the past months had been dizzying for the sleepy town: an illegal Philippine offshore and gaming operation (POGO) hub just behind the town hall was raided, revealing scams and trafficking activities by a Chinese criminals. They were all linked to then-mayor Guo, who was also unmasked in Senate hearings as a Chinese citizen not eligible for election to her post, and who was caught several times lying about her personal circumstances.
After fleeing to and getting caught in Indonesia, Guo is currently detained at the Philippine National Police custodial center in Quezon City after making an appearance at the Capas Regional Trial Court Branch 109, which ordered her arrested for graft charges.
“Siguro, sa pananaw ng tao, hindi natin mawawala na may minahal din tayo. Hindi natin makakalimutan na may ginawa rin siyang kabutihan sa ibang tao. Hindi natin matatanggal ’yung may nagsisimiyento, may naaawa sa kaniya. Natural sa isang Pilipino yun. Pero sa palagay ko ngayon kailangan mag-move on na kami,” Timbang said.
(I guess you cannot take it away from people that we had loved someone. We cannot forget that she also did good to other people. We cannot deny their sentiments, that some feel sorry for her. That’s natural for us Filipinos. But I think now we all have to move on.)
“Sa ngayon positibo ang pananaw namin sa buhay namin. [Ang] consituents ko, unti-unting bumabangon,” Timbang added.
(Right now we have a positive outlook on our lives. My constituents, we are slowly rising up.)
Despite Guo being linked to criminal activities of the POGOs found in a property she owned, most of the residents in Bamban continue to remember her as a mayor who served them well.
“Ala na. Mayap ya kasi keti. Nung ali ya mekalkal ing POGO, palage ku derecho ya pamu rin pamagserbisyu. Ita mu pin ne, uling male tamu atin yang aliwang intensyun, eta balu nung makanyan pamu rin talaga. Oneng ala, reng bisang lukluk king lamesa once na melukluk la, maranup la naman,” tricycle driver Ronnie Castro told Rappler in Kapampangan language.
(That’s just it. Because she was good here. If the POGO has not been dug up, I think she will continue to serve here. It’s just that, since we have no idea maybe she has a different intention, we don’t know if she will remain like that eventually. But, you know, those who want to have a seat at the table, once they sit down, you know, they are also hungry.)
“Kalingwan da na kami kalukluk da. Siguradu mu ita,” he added. (They will forget us once they take their seat. That’s for sure.)
Fay, a former private school teacher, believes that increasing job opportunities in their town could bring progress for both the town and its residents.
Fay grew up in Bamban. She recalled Bamban’s thriving state before the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991. She said Bamban was making progress at that time, but had since been left behind.
“Kanita, bayu ya mamakbung ing Pinatubo, masanting keti, masalese ngan ing biye. Manibat aniyang memakbung ya, ala na mu naman keti. Ena man masigla ne? Tahimik keti, mabagal ing biye. Oneng kailangan mu rin talaga ing obra. Dapat mika obra keti para kareng tau keni,” Fay said in Kapampangan language.
(Before Mount Pinatubo erupted, it was beautiful here. Life was good for everyone. Since its eruption, it’s all gone. It’s not even loud, right? It’s quiet here, slow-paced life. But you really need to work. There must also be job opportunities for the people here.)
Timbang said they all need to move on and have a fresh start. He will serve as the acting mayor for three months, or until November 13. The vice mayor, Leonardo Anunciacon, along with nine municipal councilors have been suspended by the Ombudsman for approving of the POGO operations.
Timbang, a councilor, was spared by the Office of the Ombudsman for being the only one who objected to the Guo-sponsored POGO. Anunciacion will take over as mayor after his suspension. – Rappler.com