BAMBAN, Tarlac (April 26, 2024) — Two senators are now calling for the suspension of this town’s mayor for her alleged involvement in illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) operations.
Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Risa Hontiveros inspected the premises of Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated in Barangay Anupul here last Wednesday and found evidence that Mayor Alice Guo might be involved. The senators were accompanied by several media outlets.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) raided the sprawling 10-ha. property on March 13 to serve a warrant due to alleged human trafficking and serious illegal detention involving over 868 workers.
“The mayor, napakalaki ng impluwensiya niya sa isang lugar lalo na ngayon may ongoing investigation. Preventive suspension ang pinakamainam para hindi maimpluwensiyahan ang investigation. Maganda rin yan para sa kanya dahil hindi na siya maa-accuse of influence. Gusto natin maging maayos ang pagiimbestiga ng PAOCC,” Gatchalian said.
“Hiniling ko yun sa DILG na ilagay sa preventive suspension. Hindi lang si mayor, may ilan pang pinangalanan sa mga documents na nakita natin kanina sa public briefing. Dahil habang lumalabas yung findings ng PAOCC eh mga seryoso at mabibigat na tanong ang sasagutin nina mayor,” Hontiveros said.
Early this month, Guo denied involvement in the alleged illegal activities of Zun Yuan Technologies.
“I deny in the strongest terms all of these allegations of criminal conduct, or at least, allegations that I have somehow aided and abetted the supposedly illegal acts of Zun Yuan Technology,” the lady mayor said.
The same property was raided by the CIDG in February last year. The registered POGO then was Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc., which was renamed Zun Yuan three months later.
The property is at the back of the municipal hall of Bamban town.
