THE Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Pasig City has found the dismissed mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, Alice Guo, and several others guilty of qualified human trafficking and sentenced then to life imprisonment in connection with alleged involvement in the illegal activities of a Philippine Offline Gaming Operators (Pogo) hub in her town.
Aside from Guo, also found guilty were Rachelle Joan Malonzo Carreon, Jamielyn Santos Cruz, Walter Wong Rong, Wang Welli, Wuli Dong, Nong Ding Chang and Lang Xu Po.
In an 111-page decision, Judge Annielyn Medes-Cabelis of Branch 167 of the RTC in Pasig also directed Guo and her co-accused to pay a fine of P2 million and to indemnify four victims the amount of P500,000 as moral damages and P100,000 as exemplary damages.
Likewise, the trial court ordered the forfeiture of the parcels of land registered in the name of Baofu Land Development totaling 79.218 square meters, in favor of the government, without compensation, ‘as these were used as the means of committing labor trafficking.’
The Baofu compound, which is composed of 36 buildings with KTV bar, restaurant, barbershop, and grocery store, is owned by Guo’s real estate company.
In addition, the trial court ordered the Securities and Exchange Commission to permanently revoke the registration of Baofu Land Development Inc., Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc. and Zun Yuan Technology Inc.
It also barred the stockholders and presidents of the said companies from operating similar establishments in a different name.
Baofu is the real estate company that leased its compound to Hongsheng and Zun Yuan.
The qualified human trafficking case against Guo and her co-accused was filed by the Department of Justice last year in connection with their involvement in the operation of a Pogo hub in Baofu compound that was raided by the authorities due to information about illegal activities, including human trafficking being committed in the place.
The operation resulted in the arrest of more than 300 foreigners, most of them mainland Chinese.
Guo and her co-accused were convicted just 14 months after the court acquired jurisdiction over them.
The trial court, on the other hand, acquitted other accused namely Thelma Laranan, Rowena Gonzales-Evangelista, Rita Sapnu-Yturralde, Merlie Joy Manalo Castro and Maybeline Requiro Millo for the failure of the prosecution to prove their guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
Guo, Carreon, and Cruz were ordered to be transferred to the Correctional Institution for Women at Mandaluyong City to serve their sentence while Walter, Wang, Wuli and Lang were ordered to be committed at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
Guo, who is facing a string of criminal cases such as graft and money laundering, has repeatedly denied her link or connection to the operation of the Pogo in her town.
In convicting Guo, the Court did not give credence to her defense that she is no longer a shareholder of Baofu since September 21, 2021 after she assigned all her shares to a certain Jack Uy.
The trial court noted that the environmental compliance certificate issued by the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) on November 19, 2021 named her as owner of Baofu
‘Another evidence that accused Guo is still connected with Baofu is the fact that a motor vehicle registered in her name was found inside the Baofu compound during the raid on 13 March 2024,’ Cabelis said.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) hailed the court’s decision and its prosecution team headed by Deputy State Prosecutor Olivia Torrevillas, for securing Guo’s conviction.
Hontiveros satisfied
Sen. Anna Theresia Hontiveros, chairwoman of Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, expressed satisfaction over the conviction of Guo and companions.
In a statement, Hontiveros said, ‘Today, justice has been served. The conviction of Alice Guo aka Guo Hua Ping is a victory against corruption, human trafficking, cybercrime, and many other transnational crimes. Ngayon, hindi na sila makakaulit [They can no longer commit the same crimes].’
Hontiveros added: ‘This Senate investigation delivered unprecedented results: it helped secure a presidential executive order banning Pogos, provided evidence towards a guilty verdict, sending a criminal to prison for life, and contributed in the passage of the Anti-Pogo Law of 2025.
‘I am proud to consider it one of the most consequential Senate inquiries of my life’s work so far.’
In the same statement, Hontiveros thanked the victims, witnesses and whistleblowers who had the courage to testify during the Senate investigation.
In addition, Hontiveros said: ‘My deepest gratitude to the Department of Justice prosecutors who brought this case to justice. Sa ating mga law enforcers na hindi nagsawang mag-imbestiga, mag-raid, at mag-rescue, maraming salamat sa inyo.’
Hontiveros also said, ‘as chairperson of Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality that led the investigation, this makes me feel optimistic about the work we do. But it is far from over.
‘We will continue to demand accountability from every government agency that failed in their duties, and we will continue to investigate the full extent of Chinese intelligence operations in our country.
‘And to all others who enabled Alice Guo’s criminal empire: the Philippines is not a playground for exploitation, infiltration, and espionage.
‘Accountability is coming. Justice always finds a way.’