MANILA, Philippines — In a major legal development, suspended Mayor Alice Guo and 13 other individuals are facing a criminal complaint for qualified human trafficking. The charges stem from their alleged involvement in the operation of a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Bamban, Tarlac, which was raided last March.
The complaint, filed by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, was submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday. Among those charged alongside Mayor Guo are former Technology and Resource Center deputy director general Dennis Cunanan and other corporate officers of the Zun Yuan Technology Center.
PAOCC officials emphasized that the complaint is currently in the preliminary stages and has yet to reach the courts. “What was filed today is still only a complaint. It will still go through a process in the DOJ, including a preliminary investigation where the respondents, including Mayor Alice Guo, will be allowed to state their side,” said Nicholas Ty, Undersecretary-in-charge of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, during a press conference. He stressed the importance of allowing prosecutors to conduct an independent and thorough investigation.
Mayor Guo, who has been in office for nearly a decade, has denied the allegations. In a statement this morning, she said, “I am innocent of these charges. I have dedicated my life to serving this community and will continue to do so. I trust that the judicial system will reveal the truth.”
The community’s reaction has been swift, with protests erupting outside city hall and social media abuzz with calls for accountability. Advocacy groups are mobilizing to support the victims, while local law enforcement has pledged a thorough investigation.
As the case unfolds, the city remains on edge, awaiting further developments in this high-profile scandal.
