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Guo bank accounts, assets on hold
By Nidz Godino
"These individuals are suspected of orchestrating human trafficking and fraudulent activities through entities such as Zun Yuan Technology Inc., BAOFU Land Development Inc. and Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc.," Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has ordered financial institutions and government agencies to freeze bank accounts and assets of Bamban Mayor Alice Guo as well as those of two other persons for their alleged involvement in illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) firms.
In statement, AMLC said Court of Appeals has approved council's petition for issuance of order effectively freezing assets of persons and entities allegedly involved in human trafficking, money laundering and illicit POGO activities.
Those identified in AMLC's petition are Guo, Zhiyang Huang and Baoying Lin.
Freeze order covers wide range of assets, including 90 bank accounts across 14 financial institutions, several real properties and high-value personal properties, including luxury vehicles and helicopter.
"Decisive action aims to prevent dissipation of assets while investigation and legal proceedings continue," AMLC said.
Camp of Mayor Guo said suspended official has no plan of seeking reelection in 2025 polls after she was removed from Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC)'s roster amid her alleged links to Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).
Guo's legal counsel Stephen David personally wants mayor to run again and let people of Bamban decide whether to vote for her.
"She was not contemplating to seek reelection, but for me, if she would ask me, I want her to run as eventually at the end of the day, people of Bamban will decide whether they want her... we should not preempt voters of Bamban on what they want," he said.
Guo won as independent candidate during 2022 elections, later joining NPC, recently entered into alliance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s Partido Federal.
Guo is under preventive suspension ordered by ombudsman due to complaints for graft and qualified human trafficking, linking her to conspiracy to commit labor trafficking of around 500 foreign POGO workers.
"She is not inclined to run again amid repercussions of being mayor…going back, she asked why she entered politics but of course out of her love for her constituents... I told her, let people decide or speak," David said.
Meanwhile, David has advised Guo to place herself under Senate custody amid
bullying and death threats against her.
"We talked and my advice to her is that it is not right to hide from processes of law…we should face it…if I were to decide, she is safer while in custody of Senate, safe from bashers and threats," David said.
David maintained Guo will decide if she will heed his advice.
He said Guo was suffering from trauma despite her failure to secure medical certificate that she is unfit to appear before Senate.
"We don't have to convince Senate or public... what we are saying is up to them to believe…we consulted medical practitioners…who would not believe that she experienced traumatic situation amid cyberbullying against her?" he said.
David stressed Guo is not fugitive despite decision of Senate to issue warrant of arrest against her.
"This is just warrant to compel her to testify before honorable Senate investigation," David noted.
On the other hand, David said camp of Guo will question authenticity of documents against suspended mayor after Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said she was not homeschooled, contradicting her previous testimony.
"As of now, presumption of innocence is still there…there is process…it will be court who will determine if it is true or not," he said.
During Wednesday's hearing, Gatchalian presented various school records of Guo or Guo Hua Ping from Grade 1 to Grade 3 at Grace Christian High School in Quezon City.
Philippine National Police (PNP) has expressed its readiness to assist Senate in arresting Guo, who was cited in contempt after snubbing chamber's investigation on her alleged links to illegal POGOs.
PNP public information officer Col. Jean Fajardo clarified their assistance is limited to providing security to Senate sergeant-at-arms who will serve arrest order against Guo.
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