The Senate investigation into illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) has gained renewed momentum, with former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo making her second appearance as a key witness.
Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is moving to uncover crucial evidence from a recently raided POGO hub, including computer data and vault contents, to build a more comprehensive case against the shadowy operations.
Alice Guo, whose alleged involvement in illegal POGO operations has drawn significant attention, arrived at the Senate this week amid tight security. The 33-year-old former mayor’s case has been shrouded in controversy since her arrest earlier this year. Guo, elected as mayor of Bamban, Tarlac in 2022, became embroiled in scandal on March 13th, 2024, following a police raid in her town that revealed one of the largest illegal offshore gaming hubs in the country.
The raid uncovered extensive trafficking and torture of foreign nationals and resulted in the arrest and subsequent deportation of around 400 individuals of varying nationalities. Following the raid, further investigations raised questions about Guo’s background, including the delayed registration of her birth until she was 17 and her possession of identical fingerprints to those of a Chinese national. Additionally, it was revealed that she had sought multiple clearances for Baofu Land Development Inc. before divesting from the company to enter local politics.
Despite these concerns, Guo managed to evade authorities, fleeing the country and slipping through immigration checks. She first fled to Singapore and then to Indonesia before being apprehended on September 3rd. She was extradited to the Philippines two days later, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the Senate’s investigation into POGOs.
Her latest appearance at the Senate inquiry comes after Judge Elena Amigo-Amano of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 282 in Valenzuela permitted Guo to testify. Guo is under heavy security provided by the Philippine National Police, which accompanied her from the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame to the Senate hearing.
During a previous Senate hearing, Guo was initially reluctant to identify the person who facilitated her escape attempt from the Philippines. However, after some prodding from senators, she eventually wrote the name down on a piece of paper on September 9th. Sen. Joel Villanueva later revealed his belief that the individual named by Guo is Wu Duanren, a Chinese executive of Whirlwind Corporation, who he suspects to be the “big boss” orchestrating POGO activities in the country.
While Guo’s testimony is crucial to unraveling the illegal POGO network, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is simultaneously working on a different front to dismantle these operations. The NBI is seeking a court warrant to access the vaults and computers seized during a raid on a POGO hub at a Lapu-Lapu City resort on August 31st. NBI-Central Visayas Director Renan Oliva announced the bureau’s intention to apply for a “warrant of disclosure of computer data” as well as permission to open the vaults found at the site.
The importance of the seized items cannot be overstated. According to Oliva, the data within the computers and the contents of the vaults could provide vital evidence for building a money laundering case against those suspected of managing the POGO operation in Barangay Agus, Lapu-Lapu City. NBI Director Jaime Santiago has tasked his team with pursuing all avenues to expose the illicit financial flows and human trafficking activities linked to the POGO hub.
Regional State Prosecutor Graeme June Elmido confirmed that 17 Chinese nationals and a Filipino have already been charged with human trafficking following the August 31 raid. However, the investigation into potential money laundering is still in progress, pending the opening of the seized vaults and analysis of the stored data. Elmido emphasized the scale of the case, stating, “This is a huge case,” and revealed that he has assembled a specialized team dedicated to pursuing it.
Apart from trafficking and money laundering charges, authorities are also considering asset forfeiture against the POGO hub. The suspects, currently in the custody of the Public Attorney’s Office in Manila, are facing additional administrative charges for residing in the Philippines without proper documentation from the Bureau of Immigration.
The combined efforts of the Senate and law enforcement agencies signal a comprehensive crackdown on illegal POGO operations that have long been associated with various forms of organized crime, including human trafficking, fraud, and money laundering. Guo’s testimony is expected to shed light on the deeper intricacies of these operations, including the involvement of high-ranking individuals and companies suspected of orchestrating the illegal POGO network.
However, uncovering the full extent of these activities remains a complex task. Despite recent raids and arrests, illegal POGO operators continue to find ways to evade law enforcement, often utilizing sophisticated methods to mask their activities and financial transactions. The NBI’s pursuit of court permission to access seized electronic data reflects the high-stakes nature of this investigation, as financial records and digital communications could provide the evidence needed to prosecute those at the top of the POGO hierarchy.
As Guo provides her testimony and the NBI moves forward with its investigation, the Senate’s goal is to not only expose the masterminds behind these illicit operations but also to tighten the regulatory framework surrounding POGOs to prevent future abuses. The government’s response to the crisis will likely shape the future of offshore gaming in the Philippines and determine how effectively the country can protect its national security and labor rights in the face of transnational organized crime.
In the coming weeks, the Philippine Senate and law enforcement agencies will continue their joint efforts, closely scrutinizing every aspect of the illegal POGO industry. With the testimonies of individuals like Guo and the potential evidence within seized computers and vaults, authorities hope to build a compelling case that will bring the “big bosses” of POGOs to justice and restore order within the gaming sector.
