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Senator Joel Villanueva lauds the Department of Finance (DOF) and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for recommending the permanent ban of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country.
MANILA, Philippines — The camp of Bamban Mayor Alice Guo yesterday said that the suspended official has no plan of seeking reelection in the 2025 polls after she was removed from the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC)’s roster amid her alleged links to Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).
MANILA, Philippines — Ibinunyag ng Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) na isang dating Cabinet official ang umano’y nagsisilbing protektor at nagtangkang mamagitan sa mga illegal na Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) na ni-raid kamakailan ng mga awtoridad.
OPERATIVES of the Bureau of Immigration arrested last Tuesday a Chinese wanted by Beijing for economic crimes.
MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said on Saturday that suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo would only be considered as a state witness if she names higher-ranking individuals involved in illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hubs. During the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, PAOCC spokesman Winston Casio explained that any consideration for Guo as a state witness would depend on her ability to implicate individuals "higher" in the hierarchy of alleged criminal activities. "Any state witness for that matter will have to be the least guilty in the entire conspiratorial chain in the commission of a crime," Casio said. “We wouldn’t be open to that discussion until and unless we get higher on the food chain in relation to the crime that this group has committed,” he added. Guo, according to Casio, is not viewed as the least guilty party based on the evidence gathered. Under Republic Act 6981 or the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act, any person who has knowledge of or information on the commission of a crime and has testified or is testifying or is willing to testify can be admitted to the Witness Protection Program. Last Friday, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has petitioned for the cancellation of Guo's certificate of live birth. According to Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, the cancellation of the birth certificate can be a basis for filing a quo warranto petition to remove Guo from her post as mayor. Guo's identity has come under scrutiny due to her suspected connections to raided POGOs Hong Sheng in Bamban and Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga. On June 27, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) disclosed that the fingerprints of the suspended mayor matched those of a Chinese national named Guo Hua Ping. NBI records also revealed two individuals named Alice Leal Guo who share the same name, birthday and birthplace. The Office of Ombudsman imposed preventive suspension on May 31 for Guo and others allegedly linked to the illegal POGO in her municipality.
MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives will investigate illegal activities involving Philippine offshore gaming operators or POGOs.
PH Resorts [PHR 0.58, down 19.4%; 1208% avgVol] [link] disclosed that it received a termination notice from the Okada Group concerning the group’s potential acquisition of a “significant majority ownership” stake in two of PHR’s subsidiaries that operate the Emerald Bay Project. This conclusively ends the negotiations between PHR and Okada that began in December of 2023. PHR said that Okada’s termination of the deal will “give PHR the opportunity to engage with other parties” that have been unable to engage with PHR due to the exclusivity that PHR granted to Okada as part of the term sheet both parties signed. Okada is the third company in 18 months to abandon plans to acquire the failing casino project. PHR will get to keep Okada’s P300 million deposit.
MANILA, Philippines — Suspended Mayor Alice Guo of Bamban, Tarlac might be considered a state witness if she would spill the beans on those higher than her in the heirarchy of the illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in her hometown.