By Gabriel Kim Leal
(July 4, 2024) – The Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) on Thursday expressed opposition to considering suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo as a state witness in the investigation into illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).
This came after the suggestion of Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, saying Guo could be a state witness as “there were evidence and documents that linked her” to the raided POGO hubs in Bamban, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga.
“Siya ang isa sa mga most guilty with regards to the operation of human trafficking and the scamming in Bamban and possibly in Porac. So we wouldn’t be open to having that discussion at this point,” said PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio on One PH’s Sa Totoo Lang.
Under Republic Act No. 6981 or the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act, anyone with knowledge or information about a crime, and who is willing to testify, can join the Witness Protection Program.
But Casio stressed that Guo doesn’t qualify for this due to her significant role in the illegal operations of Zun Yuan Technology Inc. and Lucky South 99 Corp., which were raided last March and last month, respectively.
However, Casio noted that they might reconsider their position if Guo meets certain conditions.
“Una, ibigay niya sa amin kung sino ‘yung iba pang mga utak na foreign nationals dito sa camp farms nito. Pangalawa, magbigay siya ng mga matitibay na mga testimonya at mga documentary evidence na magpapatunay kung sino ba ‘yung mga kasalukuyan o dating opisyal na tumulong sa kanila para mabuo itong scam farm na ito,” expounded Casio.
Recently, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation chairperson Alejandro Tengco revealed that a former Cabinet official serves as the backer of illegal POGOs.
Earlier, the PAOCC said Guo is part of a criminal ring that “operated both in Bamban and Porac.”
Last week, the National Bureau of Investigation reported that Guo and a certain “Guo Hua Ping,” a Chinese passport holder, have the same fingerprints.
“These are perfect sciences, almost infallible sciences. We can definitively say that these two people are one and the same,” stressed Casio.
(PM)
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