DOJ to file human trafficking charges vs Alice Guo in Pasig court

MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to file a qualified human trafficking case this week against former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo and her alleged business partners. 

Among those to be charged is the alleged POGO "big boss," Huang Zhiyang. 

This development follows the Supreme Court's approval of the DOJ's request to transfer the hearing from Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 66 of Capas, Tarlac, to the Pasig Regional Trial Court.

In a letter dated April 22, 2024, addressed to Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla requested the High Court to transfer criminal case numbers 9855-9857 (PP vs Ma The Pong, Wang Weili, Lang Xu et al.) from the RTC of Capas, Tarlac to Metro Manila.

“Iyong main factor dito, si Mayor Alice Guo saka kanyang mga kasamahan, mga korporasyon. Tatlong korporasyon ito, iyong Baofu, Hongsheng, at Zun Yuan… Dahil maliwanag sa ebidensya na nakikipag-ugnayan sila upang maipalaganap ang mga kriminal na gawain ng POGO na ito…. Hiniling natin natin sa Korte Suprema na ilipat ang kaso sa mas neutral ground,” DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty, head of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, said in an interview, Friday.

(“The key factor here involves Mayor Alice Guo and her associates, which include three corporations: Baofu, Hongsheng, and Zun Yuan… The evidence clearly shows their involvement in facilitating the criminal activities of this POGO operation... We requested the Supreme Court to transfer the case to a more neutral ground.”)

The Justice Department says, they are confident that sufficient evidence was found against the respondents, leading to the continuation of the case.

“Nakita ng ating mga prosecutors at law enforcement na kung pagtagpi-tagpiin mo, pagdugtungin mo yung lahat ng ebidensya ay malalim ang partisipasyon ni dating Mayor Alice Guo sa human trafficking,” added DOJ Undersecretary Raul Vasquez.

(“Our prosecutors and law enforcement have determined that when all the evidence is pieced together, it shows a deep involvement by former Mayor Alice Guo in human trafficking.”)

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, meanwhile, expressed his gratitude to the Supreme Court.

"I commend the SC for their unwavering commitment to safeguard the laws of the land in order to avoid the miscarriage of justice, the DOJ vows that we will prosecute these cases with burning resolve and integrity,” Remulla said in a statement.

According to the DOJ, cases filed under Republic Act (RA) 9208, or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, carry no bail and are punishable by life imprisonment.

Earlier, Guo's graft case was transferred to the Valenzuela Regional Trial Court.

READ: Guo’s graft case transferred to Valenzuela court

Guo is also facing complaints for tax evasion and money laundering at the DOJ. 

Guo’s camp has yet to issue a statement regarding the impending filing of the DOJ's human trafficking case against the former mayor and her co-respondents.

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