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Human  trafficking raps  vs Guo– PAOCC

By Nidz Godino

“We have gotten some documents over past few weeks that we have not yet disclosed in previous two Senate hearings as well as executive sessions requested by Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Risa Hontiveros,” Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) spokesman Winston Casio PAOCC has gathered enough evidence to file human trafficking charges against Bamban Mayor Alice Guo over alleged illegal activities at raided Philippine offshore gaming operator hub in her Tarlac town.

According to  Casio, recent documents obtained by PAOCC could implicate Guo, despite her name not appearing in any documents of Zun Yuan Technologies.

He stressed that upon their appreciation of the evidence that they were able to obtain, “for sure, by this week, we will be able to file human trafficking charges against Mayor Guo and her co-conspirators.”

Casio also mentioned PAOCC is considering additional charges related to money laundering and other offenses.

He confirmed last June 15 that  evidence includes documents directly linking Guo to  POGO hub,  raided in March following reports of human trafficking and other illegal activities.

Officials from  PAOCC and other government agencies will meet  to finalize charges,  Casio stated are serious and non-bailable offenses.

Office of the Ombudsman has suspended Guo and two local government officials for six months while investigating their involvement in  illegal activities at  POGO hub.

Senator Rissa Hontiveros  sounded  alarm over  reported link of  former government official convicted and sentenced to  26-year jail term for his involvement in Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam  considered  largest corruption scandal  country has ever seen  to POGO operations.

Hontiveros vowed to summon at  next hearing convicted former Technology and Resource Center deputy director general Dennis Cunanan, whose name cropped up following  raids on POGOs in Bamban town in Tarlac and Porac town in Pampanga.

“We will invite Mr. Cunanan to the next hearing to clarify his involvement….when there is POGO, there is  connection to  scam…as I said, all POGOs are bad… no differentiation between bad POGO or good POGO… seems  POGOs are deliberately tapping former and present officials they can easily corrupt,” the senator stressed.

Hontiveros, leads  inquiry into  participation of Guo in POGO scam operations, stressed influencing public officials is part of POGOs’ strategy to continue their criminal activities in the country.

She revealed documents that show Cunanan acting as an “authorized representative” for Hongsheng in Bamban as well as Lucky South 99 in Porac. She added that Cunanan was sentenced to 26 years for  PDAF scam.

“Cunanan figured in one of the largest corruption scandals our country has ever seen…maybe he also applied what he did in PDAF to POGOs… also shows Bamban and Porac POGO are really connected… seems scammers are together,” Hontiveros said.

She added  POGO operators might be taking advantage of country’s weakness, corruption and paid off some officials. She urged fellow government servants to work together to address corruption and ban POGOs.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos also warned local government executives on their liability in  proliferation of POGO and other illegal activities in their respective areas.

 Liability  of local government officials “does not only involve POGO but all illegal businesses,” Abalos said  when asked if elected officials will be held accountable over illegal POGO operations.

He noted that he led  raid on  illegal POGO in Angeles City, Pampanga two years ago. “I personally led  raid in Angeles City, involving Lucky 99, that’s why I was surprised that it was allowed to operate in Porac when I already raided this company.”

Abalos said local government units could ask for police assistance to check on suspicious activities of  business establishment in their jurisdiction, adding  Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. Chairman Alejandro Tengco earlier said only 43 POGOs have licenses to operate in the country.

“From 200 to 400 (licensed POGOs)… based on my conversation with chairman Tengco, only 43 are legal and he said every week, these are being regularly checked…so you could just imagine those who were not given permits, these are still in the Philippines and it is possible that they are involved in illegal activities, so all  LGUs and  PNP should be aware and immediately act on this,” he added.

Senator Win Gatchalian took the same stance, saying governors, mayors and other local officials should be held accountable for failing to monitor illegal POGO activities in their respective areas.

He commended  Pampanga provincial government for investigating  POGO hubs in Porac town and Angeles City.

Pampanga Vice Gov. Lilia Pineda vowed to finish  investigation into  POGO in Porac, saying these operators had no respect for government.

“Lucky South 99 has no building permit, no electrical permit, nothing at all, zero.. has no environmental compliance certificate…they entered  town, disregarding everything… no respect for  government,” Pineda said .

Casio  revealed in an interview at least four POGO hubs, including the one in Porac, raided by PAOCC have licenses but were also seen to be doing illegal activities.

He said POGO hub in Porac lost its license in October 2023, but continued illegal operations, including torture, which led to  raid on June 4.

Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz also revealed in an interview that PAOCC is investigating  presence of  former executive assistant to Harry Roque, spokesman for past Duterte administration.

Cruz said  former assistant resided in  POGO complex in Porac while studying in nearby Clark. He noted that this is unusual since  POGO complex typically accommodates only employees and not students.

Of 43 remaining licensed POGOs in the country, largest is  former Island Cove Resort in Cavite, Casio said as he revealed that they are also monitoring operations of this hub.

He confirmed  PAOCC monitors both legal and illegal POGOs, although  agency has not physically entered Island Cove.

Casio acknowledged  challenge posed by  continued operation of more than 300 illegal scam farms across the country, stating  it is “ very big problem that demands  whole government and eventually  whole-of-nation approach.”