Seven co-accused of dismissed Mayor Alice L. Guo of Bamban, Tarlac in the non-bailable qualified trafficking in persons case filed before the Pasig City regional trial court (RTC) have surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago presented them to the media in a press conference on Monday, Sept. 23.
They were identified by Director Santiago as Zun Yuan Technology, Inc. president Jamielyn Santos Cruz, Zun Yuan treasurer Juan Miguel Alpas, Zun Yuan secretary Roderick Paul Bernardo Puajante, Hongshen Gaming, Inc. president and chief executive officer Thelma Barrogo Requiro, Hoengshen treasurer Rita Sapnu Uyturralde, Rowena Evangelista and Rachelle Joan Malonzo Carreon.
Those co-accused who remain at large are Huang Zhiyang, Zhang Ruijin, Baoying Lin, Yu Zheng Can, Dennis Lacson Cunanan, Merlie Joy Manalo Castro, and Maybelline Requiro Millo, Santiago said.
“Karamihan Chinese ang at large pa pero hindi kami tumitigil sa paghahanap sa kanila (Most of those at large are Chinese but we continue to hunt them down),” he assured.
“As far as our investigation is concerned sila (yong mga sumuko) ang mga opisyal nitong mga corporations na ito na aming inimbestigahan (they, those who surrendered, are the officials of the corporations we have been investigating),” Santiago said.
Zun Yuan, previously called Hongshen, is a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) located in Bamban town that was raided by authorities over alleged criminal activities including human trafficking.
The raid and the arrest of several persons, including foreigners, led to the filing the criminal case against Guo and her co-acccused.
The seven surrendered to the NBI after the Judge Annielyn B. Medes-Cabelis of Branch 167 of the Pasig City RTC issued last Sept. 19 an arrest warrant aginst them.
Guo. who is already in detention based on order issued by the House of Representatives on contempt citation, was ordered transferred to the Pasig City jail from the custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“We will return the warrant today as far as they are concerned and we’ll get the commitment order kung saan sila ikukulong (where they will be detained),” Santiago said who reminded that the case in non-bailable.
He noted that all those who surrendered that "nagamit lang sila (of of them were used)."
“‘Yung allegations na ‘yun, justifications nila sa sarili nila lalabas ‘yan during trial (Their justifications will be presented during the trial),” he said.
As to the safety concerns raised by those who surrendered, Santiago assured “makikipag-coordinate kami sa korte para mabigyan sila ng proteksyon (we will coordinate with the court to provide them protection).”
Santiago said that Puajante and Alpas surrendered before the NBI’s Organized and Transnational Crime Division (AOTCD) on Sunday, Sept. 22, while the rest surrendered to NBI Central Luzon last Sunday and Friday, Sept.20.