MANILA — Lawmakers welcomed the conviction of former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, calling it a major breakthrough in the country’s crackdown on criminal networks tied to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

Senators Risa Hontiveros and Sherwin Gatchalian—both leading voices in Congress against POGO-related crimes—praised the Pasig City Regional Trial Court’s ruling sentencing Guo to reclusion perpetua for qualified trafficking.

The verdict, they said, affirms years of legislative scrutiny into syndicates operating under the guise of POGO firms.

‘Justice has been served’ — Hontiveros

Hontiveros, who spearheaded multiple Senate inquiries uncovering alleged transnational crime links involving POGOs, called the ruling a “landmark victory.”

“Today, justice has been served. The conviction of Alice Guo is a victory against corruption, human trafficking, cybercrime, and many other transnational crimes. Ngayon, hindi na sila makakaulit,” she said.

She noted that the extensive Senate probes exposed “corruption, transnational crime links, and sophisticated operations tied to POGOs,” contributing to key policy shifts—including a presidential executive order banning POGOs and the passage of the Anti-POGO Law of 2025.

“I am proud to consider it one of the most consequential Senate inquiries of my life’s work so far,” Hontiveros added. “The Philippines is not a playground for exploitation, infiltration, and espionage. Accountability is coming. Justice always finds a way.”

Gatchalian: ‘A big win for the Filipino people’

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, another staunch critic of POGO operations, likewise celebrated the decision, saying it sends a strong message to both local and foreign crime syndicates.

“The conviction of Alice Guo and her cohorts for qualified trafficking is a big win for the Filipino people, including foreign nationals who have been victimized by various criminal activities perpetrated by POGOs. The rule of law has prevailed, and justice has been served,” he said.

He added that the decision should serve as a deterrent to criminal groups exploiting loopholes in the country’s regulatory system.

“Umaasa tayo na ang tagumpay na ito ay lalo pang magpapatibay sa ating batas laban sa POGO at magpapalakas sa kampanya ng ating law enforcement agencies para tuluyang papanagutin ang mga natitirang POGO at iba pang uri ng online scam sa bansa,” Gatchalian said.

Background of the Case

The Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 167 found Guo guilty for her role in trafficking operations linked to a POGO hub in Bamban. She and seven of her co-accused were sentenced to life in prison and ordered to pay damages to four trafficking victims. The entire Baofu compound, where the POGO facility operated, was forfeited to the government.

The court further imposed a ₱2-million fine, according to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC). In total, seven of her 15 co-accused were convicted. It also ordered Guo to pay four human trafficking victims ₱600,000 each in moral and exemplary damages. “All damages awarded shall earn interest at the rate of 6% per annum from the finality of this decision until full payment,” the ruling stated.

Guo—who attended hearings via videoconference—will be transferred from the Pasig City Jail to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong.

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