Qualified trafficking raps filed vs Alice Guo

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed on Tuesday before a Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) a qualified human trafficking case against dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo over her alleged involvement in the Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub raided in her municipality.

Also charged were Huang Zhiyang, Zhang Ruijin, Lin Baoying and Yu Zheng Can, former Technology and Livelihood Resource Center official Dennis Cunanan and Guo’s alleged business partners.

Huang, Zhang and Baoying allegedly have links to property developer Baofu Land Development Inc., which leased a property to the Zun Yuan Technology, the Bamban POGO.

Huang has also been identified to be the so-called “boss of all bosses” of illegal POGOs.

They were charged with violation of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, as amended by the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012 and the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act in 2022.

The DOJ earlier said Guo is particularly culpable under Section 4(l) of the Expanded Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012, which provides that those who organize an establishment that is engaged in human trafficking are just as liable.

According to DOJ spokesman Mico Clavano, state prosecutors filed the case before the Pasig RTC following the order of the Supreme Court (SC) to transfer all relevant and relative cases in connection with the Bamban POGO.

In the original complaint filed by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission and the Philippine National Police in June, Guo was accused of involvement in Baofu dealing with the POGO in Bamban.

Clavano said the DOJ hopes the arrest warrant against Guo, should the court find probable cause, could be released as soon as possible as the Senate, which has ordered the arrest of the dismissed mayor, would soon conclude its inquiry into illegal POGOs.

Guo can also post bail for the graft case filed against her in Capas, Tarlac. The case has since been transferred to a Valenzuela City court.

“It will be in our favor that she will no longer be released from custody, so we hope these warrants of arrest are issued in such a timely manner so there will be no…