Falsification complaints were filed against dismissed mayor Alice L. Guo of Bamban, Tarlac before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday, March 12, in connection with the acquisition of several real estate properties in Pangasinan.

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Spokesperson Ferdinand M. Lavin told reporters that the bureau and Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) filed a joint complaint against Guo for falsification of public documents under Section 171 of the Revised Penal Code, and violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act (RA) 3019,the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Together with 38 other persons, 13 of them officers of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Guo was also charged with violation of RA 9208, the Anti-Trafficking Act, as amended.

“In the acquisition of these properties, sinabi ni Alice Guo na siya ay si Alice Guo (Alice Guo said she is Alice Guo) and that she is a Filipino citizen when, in fact we were able to establish that she is not Alice Guo,” explained Lavin who is also regional director of NBI National Capital Region.

“She is Guo Hua Ping and she is not a Filipino citizen and she is a Chinese citizen on the three deeds of sale,” he said. 

He also said the charges involved three properties located in Sual, Pangasinan.

“I am not sure about the value of these properties but malalaki itong mga properties (these are large properties). Naging properties ito sa operations nila sa POGO (These properties were used in the operations for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators),” he said.

The three properties will be the subject of forfeiture proceedings, he added.

The 13 PAGCOR officers named in the complaint for human trafficking were identified as Aloysius Vincent Bacay, Ralph H. Banaga, Bernard T. Bernardo, Aprilito C. Corpus, Jalvin C. Feliciano, Noel A. Laygo, Mark Christian M. Lobos, Roldan D. Palma, Marvin S. Panganiban, Ronnie F. Sadang, Anthony T. Taylo, Randy D. Pasion and Mac Jerwin Austria.

The complaint stemmed from the alleged criminal operations of Zun Yuan Technology Center, a POGO in Bamban that was raided and shut down by authorities.

“Remember ‘yung POGO at that time were registered and allowed by PAGCOR at may mga representatives doon ang PAGCOR (the POGO at that time was registered and allowed by PAGCOR which sent representatives). They closed their eyes in scamming activities,” Lavin said.

Many of the POGO employees were forced into scamming activities, he also said.

“They were deceived into believing that what they were doing totoong (correct of legal) POGO operations when in fact scamming activities na ‘yun and ang purpose nito ay ‘yung pag-exploit sa kanila (and the purpose is to exploit them),” he added.