Money laundering case filed vs Alice Guo, 35 others

MANILA, Philippines —  Complaints for 87 counts of money laundering amounting to P7 billion were filed yesterday against dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo, her purported sister Shiela, business partner Cassandra Li Ong and 33 others.

The complaint was filed by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission and the National Bureau of Investigation before the Department of Justice (DOJ) .

Other respondents include the sisters’ father Jian Zhong Guo, also known as Angelito Guo and Angelito dela Cruz; their mother Lin Wenyi, also known as Wen Yi Lin; Seimen Guo, Amelia Leal and former Technology and Livelihood Resource Center deputy director general Dennis Cunanan.

According to AMLC deputy director Adrian Arpon, they found Alice Guo to be “the principal in the money laundering committed,” using several entities in transferring money.

Ultimately, the money ended up with the real estate company Baofu Land Corp., where Guo was a shareholder and which leased a property to the Hongsheng/Zun Yuan Technology, the Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) raided in Bamban over human trafficking and other alleged crimes.

In the 105-page complaint, the agencies alleged that the respondents collaborated in committing various crimes and other illegal activities and each of them played a significant role in the illegal POGO operations.

It also said the dozen businesses under Guo’s name were aimed to hide the true nature of their businesses and make it appear that they are engaged in legitimate activities.

“Alice Guo and her cohorts intended to create layers and layers of corporations to make it appear that they were engaged in profitable and legitimate businesses, but in fact, they are not,” the complaint read.

The complainants also said Guo never divested all of her shares in Baofu. The dismissed mayor also did not declare 12 vehicles in her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.

Guo, as the representative of Hongsheng, also allegedly facilitated the issuance of a Sangguniang Bayan Resolution which did not object to Hongsheng’s application to operate.

Moreover, she paid the bills of Baofu, Hongsheng and Zun Yuan despite lease contracts stipulating that lessees should shoulder the bills.

“The following circumstances would show the grand conspiracy between and among the incorporators, officers and other individuals involved in the commission of unlawful activities, such as qualified trafficking in persons, violation of Securities Regulations Code and swindling or estafa and, in turn, money laundering,” the complaint read.

Meanwhile, Ong was included in the money laundering complaint as a “silent partner” in the Bamban POGO as she was allegedly the one who contributed to the construction of the Baofu compound.

Ong is one of the incorporators of Whirlwind Corp. which leased a property to the POGO in Porac, Pampanga.

The company was also raided for various illicit activities, including human trafficking, forced labor and scams.

She has also been identified as a liaison between former presidential spokesman Harry Roque and Lucky South 99, where she served as a legal officer.

“The circumstances indicate that respondent Cassandra Li Ong employs the same scheme or pattern of illegal corporate layering as that used by Alice Guo and her family,” the complaint read.

Meanwhile, Shiela Guo was named as one of the respondents for allegedly being an incorporator in the many corporations of the Guo family.

According to PAOCC spokesman Winston Casio, the agencies believe the scamming proceeds from Lucky South 99, the POGO in Porac, were used to build the POGO hub in Bamban.

In the complaint, the complainants said it is “overly impossible” for Baofu to afford the construction of the buildings it leased to Zun Yuan and Hongsheng, which is worth hundreds of millions or even billions.

Justice Undersecretary Jesse Andres said they believe they have a “very strong and airtight case.”

“Of course, there will be due process afforded for all of these respondents for them to be given their opportunity to explain their side,” he said.

The AMLC’s investigation showed that Guo and her accomplices amassed over P101 million in illicit proceeds between June 2020 and January 2024. The funds, initially intended for Baofu’s electricity bills, were systematically laundered through illegal means.

“The money laundering case is part of a series of cases to be filed by the AMLC, in coordination with partner agencies, to ensure that the P{Philippines shall not eb used as money laundering site for the proceeds of any unlawful activities,” the AMLC said.

Meanwhile, the freeze order issued by the Court of Appeals against Guo and two others has been extended until January 2025, according to AMLC’s Arpon.

In July, the appellate court ordered the freezing of the bank accounts and personal assets of Guo, Zhiyang Huang and Baoying Lin for alleged involvement in illegal activities.

The AMLC said the freeze order covered 90 bank accounts in 14 financial institutions, several real estate properties and high-value personal properties like luxury vehicles and a helicopter.

Guo’s lawyer: No lies

The lawyer of Guo belied allegations that he made “untruthful statements” regarding the embattled official’s whereabouts.

Guo’s legal counsel Stephen David said yesterday he was only relying on what Guo told him: that she was still in the country, even as Sen. Risa Hontiveros earlier revealed that the beleaguered mayor had fled as early as July.

“I was merely echoing her declaration that she is still in the country,” he said.

David, however, admitted that he could not confirm the information and had no idea where she was exactly.

He also explained that when he made the pronouncements, Guo had no travel records such as stamps of entry in another country, fingerprints or CCTV footage, giving him no reason to doubt the dismissed mayor’s statements.

He added that the notarization of Guo’s counter-affidavit further bolstered his belief that his client was still in the country, expressing confidence in the integrity of Elmer Galicia, the notary public who notarized the counter-affidavit.

David issued the statement after officials said cases might be filed against him because of his statements.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has said the DOJ will look into the possible involvement of Guo’s legal counsel in her exit from the country.

The department is also seeking to investigate Galicia for notarizing Guo’s counter-affidavit even though she did not personally appear to swear before him. – Keisha Ta-asan, Mark Ernest Villeza