The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a non-bailable qualified trafficking in persons case against dismissed Mayor Alice L. Guo of Bamban, Tarlac and several co-accused before the Pasig City regional trial court (RTC).
If the RTC finds probable cause, it will issue arrest orders against Guo and her co-accused.
DOJ Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic F. Clavano IV on Wednesday, Sept. 18, confirmed the filing of the case last Sept. 17.
“The DOJ would like to confirm that the case against Alice Guo, including Dennis Cunanan, who is a former Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC) deputy director general and representative of Zun Yuan Technology, as well as 12 executives and founders of the three companies and Guo’s alleged business partners, has been filed in the regional trial court of Pasig City,” Clavano said.
Among the co-accused of Guo and Cunanan are business partners Huang Zhiyang, Zhang Ruijin, and Baoying Li. A copy of the criminal charge sheet was not released by the DOJ.
Guo and her co-accused were charged with violations of Republic Act (RA) 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.
The case arose from the alleged illegal activities committed by Zun Yuan Technology Center, a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Bamban town that got raided last March 13 by authorities.
Zun Yuan Technology, which is originally called Hongsheng Gaming Technology, was located in the property owned by Baofu Land Development, Inc.
On the issuance of warrants of arrest, Clavano said: “We do hope these warrant of arrests are issued in such a timely manner para wala na interregnum (vacuum) or interruption doon sa custody ni (in the custody of) former Mayor Alice Guo."
Clavano reminded the graft case that the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) filed against Guo is bailable and that she is expected to be released once the Senate ends its hearings concerning the POGO issue.
Earlier, the Supreme Court (SC) had transferred from the Tarlac RTC to the Pasig RTC the trafficking in persons case against Chinese nationals arrested during the raid of the Bamban POGO.
The transfer was requested by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla.
Clavano said that based on the SC's transfer order, the case against Guo and her co-accused was filed before the Pasig City RTC.