Alice Guo, 35 Others Face 87 Counts of Money Laundering in P7 Billion Scheme

September 2, 2024 Philippines Crime & Legal

Alice Guo and 35 other individuals linked to illegal offshore gaming operations have been charged with 87 counts of money laundering before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The complaints were filed on Friday, August 30, 2024, by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), as announced by DOJ Undersecretary Jesse Andres.
In addition to Guo, the charges involve Cassandra Li Ong, suspected of being an incorporator of a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO); Dennis Cunanan, who is accused of handling transactions for a POGO; and various directors and shareholders of POGOs and related companies. Shiela Guo, who recently denied being the ousted mayor’s sister, is also included in the list. According to a report of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the alleged laundered money amounted to P7 billion.

Jesse Andres explained the depth of the investigation, stating, “As you know, the filing of the money laundering offense takes deep study and investigation. That’s why it is only now that we are able to launch the case of money laundering. There is an extensive financial investigation behind this effort.”

He further assured that, “Now that the AMLC has completed, and in coordination with the DOJ and the other relevant agencies, we believe we have a very strong and airtight case of money laundering.”

DOJ Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking Prosecutor Benjamin Samson described Guo as the alleged “principal” of the scheme, noting that she used multiple entities to manage and transfer her funds. Samson indicated that this complaint is just the beginning of several planned legal actions against Guo, Ong, Cunanan, and others involved.

When questioned about Cassandra Ong’s involvement, Samson explained, “So kung bakit kasama si Cassandra Ong dito sa money laundering, ‘yun ay dahil base sa investigation na ginawa ng NBI, AMLC, at ng Paocc, totoo nga may ebidensya na ang Bamban at Porac POGO hubs ay iisa ang mga personalities na involved.” (So the reason why Cassandra Ong is involved in the money laundering is because based on an investigation conducted by the NBI, AMLC, and PAOCC, there is indeed evidence showing that personalities involved in Bamban and Porac Pogo hubs are one.)

Samson also detailed that the funds used to develop Zu Yuan POGO in Bamban between late 2019 and early 2021 were believed to be sourced from profits generated by Lucky South in Porac.

Regarding Shiela Guo’s role, Samson noted, “Siya ay isa sa mga incorporators ng lahat ng korporasyon ng pamilya Guo, at base sa investigation ng AMLC, ‘yung corporations ng pamilya Guo ay involved sa money laundering.” (She is one of the incorporators of all the corporations of the Guo family, and based on the AMLC investigation, the Guo family’s corporations are involved in money laundering.)