PAGCOR Under Scrutiny for Granting Gaming License to Blacklisted Alice Guo-linked POGO

PAGCOR is being criticized for allowing an offshore gaming hub linked to Alice Guo to operate despite being blacklisted by the government.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) is facing criticism for its role in the controversial licensing of Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc., an offshore gaming hub linked to dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo. This scrutiny comes in the wake of serious money laundering charges filed against Guo and several co-conspirators.

According to a complaint filed with the Department of Justice, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), and Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) have raised concerns over PAGCOR’s decision to grant a gaming license to Hongsheng in 2021. The complaint describes PAGCOR’s actions as “baffling,” noting that despite Hongsheng being blacklisted by the government, PAGCOR only acted to close the operation on February 16, 2023. Bilyonaryo quoted the money laundering complaint that read: “What is more baffling is the fact that despite the issuance of the List of Cancelled POGO Operators or two years after the issuance of license, it was only on 16 February 2023 that PAGCOR actually ordered the closure of Hongsheng.

The investigation revealed that Hongsheng, which applied for a license to operate as an e-casino offering baccarat and roulette, had been blacklisted since 2021. The complainants criticized PAGCOR for ignoring these irregularities and for allowing the company to operate despite its questionable status.

In a related development, the AMLC, NBI, and PAOCC have jointly filed money laundering charges against Alice Guo, also known as the Chinese national named Guo Hua Ping, and 35 other individuals. The complaint names Jian Zhong Guo, Lin Wenyi, Sheila Guo, Seimen Guo, Katherine Cassandra “Cassy” Li Ong, and entities like BAOFU Land Development Inc., Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc., and Zun Yuan Technology Inc. as co-conspirators.

These charges involve a complex scheme of money laundering tied to estafa, qualified trafficking in persons, and violations of the Securities Regulation Code. The investigation uncovered that Guo and her associates laundered over ₱101 million between June 2020 and January 2024. The illicit funds, initially earmarked for BAOFU’s electricity bills, were funneled through various bank accounts to obscure their origin.

In addition to money laundering, the AMLC is seeking the forfeiture of assets valued at over ₱6 billion from Guo and her associates. These assets include real properties in Tarlac, Pampanga, and Las Piñas City, commercial buildings, luxury vehicles, a helicopter, and huge funds in multiple bank accounts.

Read related article: Here’s how much Alice Guo reportedly paid to evade arrest; escape PH