From GMA News

By Alexia Bangayan

On Thursday, November 20, former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo was convicted of qualified human trafficking and sentenced to reclusión perpetua (lifelong imprisonment), by the Pasig Regional Trial Court, Branch 167, in relation to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO)-linked scam hub she helped operate. 

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) reported that Guo and several other convicted individuals were ordered to pay a fine of P2 million per case, as well as compensation to the victims.

The ruling stated that Guo and several others facilitated the trafficking inside the Baofu compound, which was raided and found to house hundreds of workers, leading to the full seizure of the property along with the revocation of companies tied to it.

Guo, who only appeared via video conference and is being held at the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory, was reprimanded by the court, which noted that the operation involved severe coercion and exploitation of workers.

Her co-defendants, a mix of Filipino and foreign nationals, were similarly found guilty, with the court ruling that while Guo played a governing role in organizing the operation, the others directly implemented the same illegal activities inside the compound.

Some of them are set to be transferred to the New Bilibid Prison, while Guo is expected to be moved to the Correctional Institution for Women, as authorities continue to secure those responsible for the trafficking network.

Lawmakers accepted the verdict, with Sen. Risa Hontiveros calling it a “victory for the rule of law and for victims of human trafficking.”

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian also described it as a “big win for the Filipino people” that “reinforces the government’s resolve to dismantle the POGO-linked criminal networks.”

Authorities emphasized that the sentence underscores the risks of illegal online gaming operations being used as a cover for trafficking and other transnational crimes, with regard to the Baofu compound and associated companies being part of a larger network facilitating exploitation across the region.

Past Controversies

Before her conviction, Guo had already drawn attention to a scandal over her alleged use of POGO-linked companies and the Baofu compound raid back in June 2024, which uncovered hundreds of trafficked workers and prompted investigations into her operations.

The court also addressed scrutiny over Guo’s contested nationality, identifying her as a Chinese national, Guo Hua Ping, but emphasized that regardless of nationality, those responsible for coercion and trafficking will be held accountable.