Former Bamban Mayor Seeks to Stay at Pasig Female Dormitory Following Human Trafficking Conviction

Former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo has filed a petition requesting to remain at the Pasig City Female Dormitory after her recent conviction on qualified human trafficking charges. According to Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) spokesperson Winston Casio, this motion has delayed her transfer to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City.

"This means her transfer to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong will be postponed," Casio explained.

Guo and seven other defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment on Thursday by a Pasig court for their involvement in qualified human trafficking. The charges arose from a crackdown on illegal activities discovered within a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Bamban.

In 2024, authorities conducted a raid on Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated (ZYTI), a known POGO facility, where 800 employees were detained, including approximately 500 foreign nationals. Of these, 427 were identified as Chinese citizens.

The raid triggered an investigation into Guo’s role, as the illicit operations took place alarmingly close to Bamban’s municipal hall. Authorities scrutinized her alleged negligence in failing to detect the illegal POGO activities.

Subsequent inquiries led the National Bureau of Investigation to verify Guo’s identity through fingerprint analysis, confirming that she is the same individual as Chinese national Guo Hua Ping.

Additionally, the court ruled that the property where the raid occurred would be forfeited to the government. This case has spotlighted persistent challenges in regulating illegal offshore gaming operations and associated human trafficking issues.