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Guo’s lawyer says Bamban mayor won't flee from human trafficking case

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Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

Despite having another case to contend with, the camp of Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo says it is better that she has been charged before the Department of Justice (DOJ) because it is the proper forum. The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) on Friday filed a case of qualified human trafficking against Guo and 13 others. This is in connection with the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) Zun Yuan Technology in Bamban. “Ngayon magkakaroon kami ng pagkakataon na malinis ‘yung pangalan niya, hindi sa mata ng biased public opinion,” Atty. Stephen David, Guo’s counsel, said. “Naunahan kami ng publicity trial.” (We will now have a chance to clear her name, not in the eyes of biased public opinion. We were overtaken by publicity trial.) <div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/19/gatchalian-asks-osg-to-fast-track-case-vs-guo-2016" id="isPasted">Gatchalian asks OSG to fast track case vs Guo</a></div>In the complaint, authorities said Alice Leal Guo is also known as the Chinese national Guo Hua Ping which David denied.“Very ridiculous ‘yun, ano,” David said. “Kapag hindi nila napatunayan ‘yun papaano ‘yun eh di sila ang fa-filan ng counter charge?”(That is very ridiculous. If they cannot prove that, then they will be the ones charged?)David also insisted that Guo is not a flight risk in light of DOJ’s statement that the Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order against her is already being processed.“Kung talagang gustong tumakas ni Mayor eh di noon pa tumakas na siya eh Mayor siya eh alangan namang iwanan niya ‘yung kanyang constituents,” David stated. “Haharapin namin ‘yan kasi flight is evidence of guilt.”(If she really wanted to flee then she would have already done that before, but she is a Mayor and she cannot leave her constituents. We will face the charge against her because flight is evidence of guilt.)Guo’s camp has also filed a counter argument before the Office of the Ombudsman in relation to the graft case against her.The mayor will also attend the next Senate hearing on June 26.According to PAOCC Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz, they followed the legal process and are not out to discredit Guo.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/19/alice-guo-itinangging-siya-si-guo-hua-ping-2046" id="isPasted">Alice Guo itinangging siya si Guo Hua Ping</a></div>“We want everything to be transparent and we want people to know kung ano ‘yung nangyayari sa loob ng POGO (what is happening inside a POGO),” Cruz sad in an interview. “Hindi natin siya sina-subject sa trial by publicity (We are not subjecting her to trial by publicity.”Cruz said they based the allegation that Alice Guo and Guo Hua Ping are the same person, based on documents from the Bureau of Immigration and Board of Investments—a Chinese passport and Special Investors Resident Visa (SIRV).He added that they will file another case against Guo next week.“That’s for the Porac illegal POGO hub kasi kabit kabit naman ito eh (because these are all connected.)PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio previously said Guo is supposedly linked with a criminal syndicate behind the illegal POGOs in Bamban and Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga, a claim that her camp has denied. <div>NEXT SENATE HEARING</div>Senator Sherwin Gatchalian supports the filing of human trafficking against Guo.In their next hearing, senators will also look into her possible involvement with Lucky South 99. “It’s clear na ‘yung mga ka-transaksyon niya, itong mga sindikato ay nakikita rin dito sa POGO hub sa Porac,” Gatchalian said. (It’s clear that the people she transact with, these syndicates are also seen in the POGO hub in Porac.)   <div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/20/senate-probe-on-fake-birth-certificates-late-birth-registration-sought-1148" id="isPasted">Senate probe on fake birth certificates, late birth registration sought</a> </div>Gatchalian maintained that the Senate inquiry cannot be considered as trial by publicity. “Ang objective is unang una, malaman kung sino ang accountable dito sa POGO hub na nangyari sa Bamban at pangalawa, paano pigilan ‘yung ganito pang mga POGO hub na mangyari sa ating bansa.” (The objective is first, identify who are accountable in the POGO hub in Bamban and second, know how to stop these POGO hubs in the country.) Aside from the Senate, PAOCC and PNP, the Office of the Solicitor General and Bureau of Internal Revenue are also investigating Guo.

Despite having another case to contend with, the camp of Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo says it is better that she has been charged before the Department of Justice (DOJ) because it is the proper forum.

Despite having another case to contend with, the camp of Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo says it is better that she has been charged before the Department of Justice (DOJ) because it is the proper forum.