The Philippine government is trying to reduce the power of embattled "POGO mayor" Guo Aili, who is facing a double blow.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has stripped her of her supervisory powers over the local police to avoid interfering with ongoing investigations into alleged links to illegal offshore gaming enterprises (POGOs).
The Ministry of Interior made a separate request to the Ombudsman to suspend Guo due to "serious misconduct and negligence".
The move comes after the Senate launched an investigation into her possible involvement in two illegal online gambling operations and raised concerns about her background.
Kuo, the first female mayor of Bamban, Tarlac province, insists her ties to China are only for business purposes. She denies any wrongdoing.
But a previous report by the Philippines' Department of the Interior and Local Government showed "disturbing findings", increasing the risk of the mayor getting into trouble.
