A Pasig City regional trial court (RTC) has ordered the transfer to the city's Female Dormitory Jail of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice L. Guo who is now in the custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
RTC Judge Annielyn B. Medes-Cabelis, in her order, saw no need to issue an arrest order against Guo for non-bailable charge of qualified trafficking in persons since the dismissed mayor is already under detention on contempt citation issued by Congress.
Thus, Judge Cabelis, in an order issued last Thursday, Sept. 19, directed the PNP that she be transferred from the Custodial Facility in Camp Crame, Quezon City to the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory.
“The NCR CIDG (PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region) Custodial Facility, Camp Crame, Quezon City is directed to transfer the custody of accused Alice Leal GBuo a.k.a. ‘Guo Hua Ping’ to the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory, Bureau of Jail and Management Penology (BJMP) located at Nagpayong, Brgy. Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City,” the judge's order also stated.
Also, Judge Cabelis ordered Guo’s other detained co-accused, Walter Wong Long, transferred to the Pasig City Jail Male Dormitory from the Tarlac Provincial Jail where he is currently detained.
The judge set the arraignment and pre-trial of Guo and Long's cases at 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 27.
In the same order, Judge Cabelis ordered the arrest of Guo's 14 co-accused in the case.
“Considering that accused Huang Zhiyang, Rachelle Joan Malonzo Carreon, Zhang Ruijin, Baoying Lin, Yu Zheng Can, Dennis Lacson Cunanan, Jamielyn Santos Cruz, Roderick Paulo Bernardo Pujante, Juan Miguel Alpas, Merlie Joy Manalo Castro, Rita Sapnu Yturralde, Rowena Gonzales Evangelista, Thelma Barrogo Laranan, and Maybelline Requiro Millo a.k.a. ‘Shana Yiyi’ are at large, let the corresponding warrant of arrest be issued against them,” the order stated.
Guo and Long and their co-accused were charged with qualified trafficking in persons in violations of Republic Act (RA) 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, in connection with the alleged criminal activities committed by Zun Yuan Technology Center, a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) that was raided in Bamban town.
Guo and other co-accused have been charged with graft by the Office of the Ombudsman, also in connection with Zun Yuan Technology. The case against them has been transferred to the Valenzuela City RTC.
Although bailable, Guo did not post bail on her graft case.
Guo is still facing money laundering and tax complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ).