20-6-2024 (MANILA) In a shocking revelation, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has accused suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo of being part of a criminal syndicate responsible for two illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hubs that were recently raided by law enforcement authorities.
According to PAOCC spokesman Winston John Casio, their investigation has uncovered evidence linking Guo to a group behind the operations of Zun Yuan Technology Inc. in Bamban and Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga – two POGO firms suspected of being involved in criminal activities.
“Mayor Alice is part of the same criminal operation organization that operated both in Bamban and Porac,” Casio stated in an interview aired on ABS-CBN’s “TV Patrol” on Tuesday night.
While Guo was previously an incorporator at the Baofu compound, where Zun Yuan is located, Casio revealed that the PAOCC has reason to believe that the suspended mayor played an active role in the actual operations of the POGO hub. However, when asked about Guo’s specific role in the alleged criminal organization, Casio declined to provide further details.
The revelation has sent shockwaves through the local community and raised concerns about the extent of POGO-related criminal activities in the region. It has also prompted questions about the level of involvement of local officials in facilitating or turning a blind eye to such operations.
In a separate development, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has issued a reminder to its officers, cautioning them against accepting donations from individuals, particularly in the wake of reports that Guo had donated fixtures and furniture to the Bamban police station before becoming the town’s mayor.
Meanwhile, Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda has taken proactive steps by issuing two memoranda to mayors and the PNP in the province, outlining measures to combat illegal POGO firms. Pineda has directed barangay captains to conduct awareness campaigns in their respective areas to educate residents about illegal businesses and other crimes.
During a recent hearing of the House of Representatives committee on dangerous drugs, a barangay chairman in Mexico, Pampanga, faced intense questioning for allowing a “junk shop” to operate without a business permit. The hearing was a continuation of the panel’s probe into the P3.6 billion worth of methamphetamine seized in a warehouse in Mexico.
As the crackdown on illegal POGO operations intensifies, concerns have been raised about the potential displacement of thousands of Filipino workers employed in the industry. Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma revealed that the Department of Labor and Employment is currently profiling those likely to be affected by the POGOs’ closure, with the aim of providing appropriate intervention and support.
