ALICE Guo was found guilty of qualified trafficking in persons over her involvement to a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation (POGO) hub in Bamban, Tarlac where she also served as mayor.
In the verdict given on Thursday, November 20 by the Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 167, Guo and her seven co-accused were sentenced to life imprisonment and also fined P2 million.
However, according to Deputy State Prosecutor Olivia Torrevillas, eight other co-accused were acquitted. Nevertheless, Torrevillas said that the most important thing is that the key players in the POGO and trafficking operations were put to justice.
“Finally, after more than one year, napakabilis po ng korte. Binigay sa atin ang favorable decision,” Torrevillas said. “First time tayong nagfile ng organizing [human trafficking]. First time din na nagconvict ang court ng organizing [human trafficking].”
The court also ordered the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to permanently cancel the registration of Baofu Land and Development Inc., Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc. and Zun Yuan Technology Inc. While the compound itself where the POGO was holding office is also issued an order of forfeiture.
While Guo and her co-accused did not appear physically at the court for the promulgation, they were present via video conference.
The former mayor will be transferred to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City.