BAMBAN, Tarlac — The Office of the Ombudsman has granted the motions for reconsideration filed by Bamban Mayor Jose Salting Jr and former councilor Nikko Balilo, modifying its earlier decision that imposed a three-month suspension on the two officials.
In an order dated July 22, 2026, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla cleared Salting and Balilo of administrative liability in the case.
The anti-graft body ruled to grant their motions to avoid imposing duplicative administrative penalties arising from the same act. The order was only made public on August 21, 2026.
Salting is expected to report for work on Monday, August 24.
Salting and Balilo previously argued that the original findings effectively punished them twice for the enactment of Special Ordinance No. 59-2019. They noted that the anti-graft body had already found them guilty of Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service in a separate case (OMB-C-A-MAY-24-0051) and meted out a three-month suspension without pay for the same action.
While the Ombudsman absolved Salting and Balilo in the modified order, it affirmed the administrative liability of two other officials involved in the improper issuance of Special Ordinance No. 59-2019:
Former Councilor Alvin Dale Sibal remains guilty of Simple Misconduct and faces a three-month suspension. The Ombudsman denied Sibal’s motion for reconsideration and supplemental motion for partial reconsideration for lack of merit.
Municipal Assessor Mar Antonio Tan remains guilty of Simple Neglect of Duty and faces a one-month suspension for lack of proper attention in performing his duties.
The Ombudsman dismissed the complaint against all other named respondents in the case.
Deputy Ombudsman for Visayas Dante Vargas endorsed the order to the Human Resource Division of the Municipal Government of Bamban on July 31, 2026, for information and appropriate action. The municipal HR office officially received the document only on August 17, 2026.
The administrative cases stemmed from the passage of Special Ordinance No. 59-2019, an ordinance enacted when dismissed mayor Alice Guo — whose real name is Guo Hua Ping — was still a private citizen. The ordinance reclassified a 7.9-hectare agricultural property into an industrial, commercial, and residential zone.
This property later became the Baofu Land Corporation compound, which hosted raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hubs Hongsheng Gaming Technology Incorporated and Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated.
