Alice Guo Pleads Not Guilty to Human Trafficking Charges Linked to POGOs

October 2, 2024 Philippines Crime & Legal

Dismissed Mayor Alice Guo of Bamban, Tarlac pleaded not guilty to charges of qualified human trafficking when she faced a Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) on September 27, 2024. This case stems from her alleged involvement with a leasing company that worked with Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

The online arraignment took place before RTC Branch 167 and is connected to the illegal activities of Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc. Authorities raided the company last year, uncovering over 800 alleged victims of human trafficking. Disturbingly, nearly half of these victims were foreign nationals, raising significant concerns about the scale of the operations linked to Guo.

Nicole Jamilla, one of Guo’s attorneys, firmly asserted her client’s innocence. “She really has no involvement in trafficking. Without going into further details, because we might get into sub judice, our client is adamant that she is not guilty of the crime being accused of her,” Jamilla was quoted as saying in a report published by the Inquirer.

Guo’s legal troubles extend beyond the human trafficking charges. Last week, the Pasig court ordered the Philippine National Police to transfer her from Camp Crame to the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory. Guo’s current charges are non-bailable, adding to the gravity of her situation. Despite this, Stephen David, another member of Guo’s legal team, revealed that they filed a petition on Thursday requesting the option to post bail.

In addition to the human trafficking charges, Guo faces graft and corruption allegations in a separate case before the Valenzuela RTC Branch 282. This case was previously under the jurisdiction of the Tarlac RTC Branch 109. Guo’s legal woes also include a quo warranto case in a Manila court, which challenges her eligibility to hold public office due to her alleged Chinese nationality. The National Bureau of Investigation found that her fingerprints matched those of a Chinese national named Guo Hua Ping, further complicating her legal status.

Moreover, Guo is facing a money laundering complaint filed last month with the Department of Justice. This complaint alleges that she concealed her financial interests related to the Baofu compound, which spans eight hectares and housed the POGO Hongsheng, which rebranded as Zun Yuan Technology Inc.

Guo’s troubles escalated in early September when she was apprehended in Indonesia. She had fled the Philippines in July amidst mounting legal pressures and several Senate hearings that scrutinized her alleged connections to the POGO industry. The hearings also focused on her nationality, raising questions about her eligibility to serve as a public official in the Philippines.

The case against Guo highlights the broader issues associated with the POGO industry in the Philippines. Authorities have increasingly focused on the operations of these offshore gaming companies, which have been linked to various illegal activities, including human trafficking and money laundering.