The Philippines’ Department of Justice (DOJ) has approved the filing of 62 counts of money laundering charges against “POGO Mayor” Alice Guo and 31 others, linked to a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Bamban, Tarlac.
According to the Philippine News Agency, a DOJ spokersperson indicated that Guo individually is facing 26 counts of money laundering under the nation’s money laundering act (AMLA), linked to transactions said to be illegal proceeds of illegal activity.
Authorities recommend that Guo also be charged with five other countrs of money laundering linked to the ‘conversion, transfer, or disposition of movement of monetary instruments found to be illegal proceeds of an unlawful activity’.
Further recommendations of legal violations have also been recommended against both Guo and the others accused.
A separate charge against lawyer Jason Masuerte, Nancy Gamo and Cassie Li Ong for aiding and abetting money laundering offenses were dropped.
The DOJ spokesperson indicated that “it was dismissed on the basis of lack of prima facie evidence and reasonable certainty of conviction”.
The official also revealed that the panel of prosecutors had found that the POGO operations included scams, such as crypto, investment and love scams, noting that “that is where they earned money, and used the proceeds to purchase assets”.
Guo had previously faced charges for human trafficking, following a raid on the POGO hub in Bamban.
Authorities are further investigating alleged links to corporate fraud and drug syndicates.
Guo has been detained since September, after attempting to flee to Indonesia, where she was detained and repatriated to face sentencing.
