The Department of Justice (DOJ) has given the go-ahead for 62 counts of money laundering charges to be filed against Alice Guo, the former mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, and 31 others linked to a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in the town. This decision was announced by DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano during a press briefing on Wednesday.
The charges stem from the operations of the POGO hub, which were found to involve illegal activities such as love scams, investment scams, and cryptocurrency frauds. Clavano explained that the profits from these scams were used to purchase various assets, highlighting the severity of the financial crimes committed.
The panel of prosecutors recommended 26 counts of money laundering under Section 4(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) for transactions involving illegal proceeds. Additionally, they suggested five counts under Section 4(b) for the conversion, transfer, or movement of these illegal funds. A further 31 counts under Section 4(b) were recommended against Guo and her co-accused.
However, the DOJ dismissed a separate complaint against Guo for concealing the true nature of the funds’ source, citing insufficient evidence. Similarly, charges against lawyer Jason Masuerte, Nancy Gamo, and Cassie Li Ong for aiding and abetting money laundering were also dropped due to a lack of prima facie evidence and reasonable certainty of conviction.
In addition to the money laundering charges, Guo and her associates face allegations of qualified human trafficking following a raid on the POGO hub in June, where 800 Filipino and foreign workers were rescued. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has also uncovered connections between POGOs and drug syndicates, as well as corporate fraud, indicating a broader network of criminal activities.