MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice-National Prosecution Service (DOJ-NPS) has recommended the filing of money laundering charges against dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo for allegedly running criminal activities inside the Baofu compound in her town.
In a 49-page resolution, a panel of prosecutors from the DOJ-NPS recommended the filing against Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping, of 26 counts of money laundering under Section 4 (a) of Republic Act 9160 (Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001), five counts of money laundering under Section 4 (b) of RA 9160 as amended by RA 10365 (An Act Further Strengthening the Anti-Money Laundering Law) and 31 counts of violation of Section 4 (d) of RA 9160 as amended by RA 10365.
In the 31 counts of money laundering, named respondents were Guo and 30 others, including Jian Zhong Guo, also known as Angelito Guo aka Angelito dela Cruz Guo; Lin Wenyi aka Wen Yi Lin aka Amelia Leal; Shiela Leal Guo aka Mier Zhang; Seimen Leal Guo; Zhiyang Huang aka Boss Wang and Rachelle Joan Carreon.
The DOJ-NPS explained that the elements of money laundering – the existence of unlawful activity, monetary instrument or property that represents proceeds of the unlawful activity, performance of acts pertaining to the proceeds and property and knowledge of the unlawful activity – were present in the case.
“Upon judicious evaluation and consideration of all the documentary evidence and totality of circumstances presented vis-à-vis the respondents’ arguments and defenses, the undersigned investigating panel is convinced that there exists prima facie cases for money laundering with reasonable certainty of conviction of respondents found to be involved in its complex web of commission,” the DOJ-NPS said in its resolution.
It added that Guo’s involvement in “the grand scheme cannot be overemphasized.”
“She appears to be its brainchild and/or architect,” the DOJ-NPS said.
Guo is the president of Baofu Land Development, which has been the subject of three search warrants reportedly because of online gambling, internet fraud and other cybercrime operations conducted by Hongsheng.
There were also Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) operating inside Baofu.
A month after it was given juridical personality and prior to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) awarding it with a POGO license, it was raided, resulting in the arrest of 332 foreign nationals, a majority of whom were of Chinese descent.
During the search conducted on March 13 last year, foreign nationals were rescued.
Zen Yuan was reportedly engaged in labor trafficking, online fraud, cryptocurrency scam, love scam and investment fraud.
“Noteworthy, there were no financial documents indicating specific remittance or receipt of money or other monetary instruments by either Baofu, Hongsheng or Zun Yuan arising from the unlawful investment or love scamming activities conducted inside Baofu compound,” the resolution said.
“Nonetheless, this does not defeat or negate the fact that respondents actually derived proceeds from their unlawful activities. Obviously, the respondents are too keen and crafty as to leave any trail or evidence of dirty money that would easily give them away,” it added.
The resolution noted, however, that the case involves several corporations that tried to conceal the true nature of their businesses and sow public perception of conducting legitimate activities.
“With the machinations of the respondents, chiefly by Alice Leal Guo, layers of corporations were incorporated one after another to make it appear that these were engaged in independent, profitable and legitimate businesses,” the resolution stated.
While there was no direct and specific financial document showing proceeds from unlawful activities being conducted inside Baofu, it claimed that “it is very apparent that proceeds from unlawful activity were diverted and channeled through Guo’s other businesses such as QJJ Farm and QSeed Genetics.”
“In this case, Alice, through QJJ Farm and QSeed Genetics as transit accounts, paid for the electric bills and other operating expenses of Baofu, Hongsheng and Zun Yuan,” the resolution stated.
“Doubtless, these cases and check payments relating to the utility and other operating expenses of Baofu, Hongsheng and Zun Yuan represented or constituted the proceeds generated from the unlawful activities by Hongsheng and later, by Zun Yuan,” it added.
The charges against Katherine Cassandra Li Ong, however, were dropped for lack of evidence.
DOJ Assistant Secretary and spokesman Mico Clavano said the case would be filed in a Manila court “as soon as possible.”
29 foreigners nabbed in ‘guerrilla’ POGO
Twenty-nine foreigners were arrested when law enforcement authorities raided a guerrilla-type POGO hub in Silang, Cavite, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) reported yesterday.
The suspects, 22 Chinese nationals and six citizens of Myanmar, were arrested at a private resort in Barangay Lalaan II around 3:30 p.m.
In a report, the PAOCC said the owner of the resort alerted the authorities about the suspicious activities of the foreigners on his property.
A composite team consisting of members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Bureau of Immigration, Cavite police and the PAOCC swooped down on the resort.
Authorities were conducting an inventory of the items seized at the resort as of yesterday afternoon.
Seized from the suspects were computer laptops and other devices.
80% of POGOs closed
At least 80 percent of the 400 POGO hubs in the country have shut down their operations, but law enforcement authorities continue to keep tabs on their workers who have started shifting to small-scale operations.
PAOCC executive director Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz yesterday said they are keeping tabs on certain areas of the country where there is reported presence of small-scale POGO hubs.
Apart from Metro Manila, the PAOCC has been monitoring illegal gaming hubs operating in Calabarzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.
Cruz gave assurance that they are not letting their guard down even if around 320 of the approximately 400 POGO firms in the country have stopped operating.
“Let’s say about 80 percent of the 400 stopped, but stopping doesn’t mean they have stopped completely,” he said in an interview aired over PTV’s “Bagong Pilipinas.”
He added that around 27,000 of the 40,000 foreigners working in POGO hubs have been deported to their home countries, which means around 13,000 people are still unaccounted for.
These foreigners are now the focus of intelligence-driven operations as they could be setting up clandestine POGO hubs in defiance of President Marcos’ ban on the industry, according to the PAOCC chief.
“Mostly in Metro Manila, but also in Northern Luzon, Visayas, we are already receiving reports,” he said.
He added that they have also monitored other similar establishments in Mindanao.
Cruz earlier said they are monitoring over 100 small-scale POGO hubs nationwide.
He added that the suspects organize themselves into groups of 20 to 50, renting condominium units, houses in subdivisions and even resorts for their operations.
The foreigners then hire the services of Filipinos as keyboard operators of their scamming activities, according to Cruz. – Emmanuel Tupas