Alice Guo may face human trafficking charges – PAOCC exec

Alice Guo —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — Alice Guo, the suspended mayor of Bamban town in Tarlac, may face human trafficking charges this week, an official of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said.

PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio explained that Guo may be liable for the crime because she had partial ownership of properties where alleged human trafficking activities took place.

“We are very confident that we will be able to file human trafficking charges against the embattled Mayor of Bamban. Now, we have also been viewing other possible charges in relation to money laundering as well as other charges that – either minor charges so to speak,” he said on ANC’s Headstart on Monday.

READ: BIR to go after Alice Guo’s tax records, possible tax evasion

“For sure, by this week, we will be able to file human trafficking charges against Guo and her co-conspirators,” he added.

READ: Alice Guo ordered suspended as mayor of Bamban, Tarlac

Casio cited a provision in the anti-human trafficking law that penalizes owners of buildings and properties that allow their estates to be used for human trafficking.

READ: Bamban mayor Alice Guo says she spent just P134,000 in 2022 campaign

Guo earlier claimed she sold her share in Baofu Land, the property in Tarlac where government authorities raided an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) identified as Zun Yuan Technology Inc. in March.

According to Casio, while Guo may say that she sold her Baofu Land share before running for mayor in 2022, she may still have culpability because it was she who signed off on lease contracts between Zun Yuan Technology Inc. and  Baofu Land.