Former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo has been sentenced to life imprisonment for her involvement in qualified human trafficking cases connected to an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in her municipality.
Court Delivers Landmark Verdict
On Thursday, November 20, 2025, the Pasig City Court found Guo guilty of qualified human trafficking and handed down a sentence of reclusion perpetua, meaning imprisonment for the remainder of her natural life. The court also convicted her co-accused Rachelle Malonzo Carreon, Jaimielyn Cruz, and Walter Wong Rong on the same charges.
Additional defendants Wang Weili, Wuli Dong, Nong Ding Chang, and Lang Xu Po were also found guilty of trafficking activities. All convicted individuals attended the promulgation of their case via video conference while detained at Pasig City Jail.
Financial Penalties and Victim Compensation
The court imposed severe financial penalties alongside the prison sentences. Each convicted person was ordered to pay P2 million in fines per case and provide monetary reparations to the victim-complainants. These substantial penalties reflect the gravity of the crimes committed.
The case stemmed from a 2024 raid on Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated (ZYTI), where authorities apprehended approximately 800 employees, including an estimated 500 foreign workers, 427 of whom were Chinese nationals.
Fallout from POGO Scandal
The raid placed Mayor Guo under intense scrutiny when she failed to identify the illegal activities occurring at the POGO facility located dangerously close to the Bamban municipal hall. This failure prompted government agencies to investigate her true identity and background more thoroughly.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) played a crucial role in building the case against Guo and her associates, leading to the successful prosecution that has resulted in these historic sentences.
