PAOCC links Alice Guo to syndicate behind illegal POGOS in Bamban, Porac

MANILA -- The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has linked Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo to an alleged criminal syndicate behind the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in Bamban and Porac, Pampanga. 

In an interview with ABS-CBN, PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio said they have evidence supporting this.

“Ang Bamban at saka Porac ang lagi naming sinasabi sila po ay dalawang sanga ng iisang puno (We always say that Bamban and Porac are two branches of one tree.) So they belong to the same criminal organization,” Casio stated. “Mayor Alice is part of the same criminal organization that operated both Bamban and Porac.”

The illegal POGOs Hong Sheng Gaming Technology and Zun Yuan Technology operated in Baofu Compound, a compound in Bamban owned by Baofu Land Development Incorporated where Guo was a former incorporator.

Lucky South 99 operated in Porac.

On Tuesday, PAOCC met with other government agencies such as the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to draft its complaint affidavit against Guo.

The agency is determined to charge the mayor with human trafficking within the week.

It believes that Guo was involved in the detention of certain individuals by Zun Yuan.

“Upon our appreciation of the evidence at hand, we believe that she remains the beneficial owner of Baofu Land Development,” Casio said. “She was not only connected with Baofu but with the actual operation of the POGO itself…even after divesting.”  

Aside from human trafficking, PAOCC will also file other criminal and administrative cases against Guo and other owners of Baofu. Some local officials may be charged as well.

FILE CASE IN COURT

Attorney Stephen David, Guo’s counsel, said the mayor is ready to face PAOCC’s accusations.

“Karapatan nila ‘yun, pero sana ang pakiusap, huwag naman ‘yung harassment ang ifa-file nila. Kung magfa-file tayo dapat may matibay na ebidensiya,” he told ABS-CBN.

(That is their right but we appeal that whatever they file will not be a form of harassment. It should be based on solid evidence.)  

David insists that his client already divested from Baofu when she ran for Mayor in 2022 and her previous connection with the company cannot be used against her.

“Ano ngayon ang kasalanan niya kung may umupa na dito sa kanyang mga building?” David asked? “Assuming, ‘di ko naman alam wala naman tayong lahat doon, na mayroong iligal na gumagawa doon, anong kinalaman ng lessor doon?”

(Why is she at fault if someone leased her buildings? We were not there but assuming that there was an illegal activity being conducted, what is the role of the lessor there?)

As for Guo’s supposed ties to a criminal syndicate, David said this remains an allegation and if PAOCC has evidence, they should just file the case in court.