Embattled Bamban Mayor Alice Leal Guo has denied allegations that she “aided and abetted the supposedly illegal acts of Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated” which was shut down on March 13, 2024.
In a statement, Mayor Guo said, “Human trafficking, torture, and illegal detention are heinous crimes that I would never, ever tolerate, much less be involved in. I must admit, these shocking allegations have disturbed my peace and have hurt me and my family.”
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), and the Northern Luzon Command, had shut down the operations of the Zun Yuan Technolocy Inc. in Barangay Anupul, Bamban, Tarlac, after they rescued one Vietnamese and one Malaysian nationals, who revealed illegal scamming activities in the operations of the Internet Gaming Licensee (IGL). Some 282 foreign nationals were taken custody and currently housed at the Nasdake Detention Center awaiting deportation. “It is with great sadness and disappointment that I face the unjust, unfounded accusations hurled against me by a member of the Senate of the Philippines and PAOCC, Mayor Guo said.
“I am certain that the good Senator and PAOCC are simply acting in good faith, on the basis of information that was given to them. Nevertheless, 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 Incorporated.
“However, I am staying strong through my faith in God and with the support of my family and friends. It is unfortunate that certain circumstances and coincidences are now being touted as ‘damning evidence’ against me.”
Mayor Guo said she is willing to face any investigation to clear her name. “I welcome any investigation carried out by the proper authorities at the proper forum. I am ready to answer all accusations and show that these allegations are false and unjust, should I be given the chance to do so at the proper forum.”
‘Unfairly Persecuted’
“I would like to remind everyone that, as Filipinos, our Constitution guarantees that we are all innocent until proven guilty. The point being, I am being unfairly persecuted in the absence of any real investigation and without any court trial. All I can say, in the face of this unjust persecution, is that the truth will eventually come out,” Mayor Guo said. “And I know, and my family and friends know, that I am innocent of all these terrible accusations. I am putting my faith in God, in our courts, and in every Filipino who cares about truth and justice; I am sure that the truth is on my side, and the truth shall set all of us free. “Apart from the distress I feel personally and for my family, I am greatly saddened that these accusations are becoming a distraction and a disruption that threatens the good will and effective public service between my office and the people who voted for me and who expect me to be of service to them.” Mayor Guo has appealed to Bamban residents to be circumspect with the issues being hurled against her. “I request the people of Bamban to not be so quick to judge and to not let themselves be swayed by unproven, unfounded and unjust allegations made against me.”
DILG Task Force
In a related development, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has created a Task Force to investigate the alleged involvement of Bamban LGU officials in illegal POGO operations. DILG Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos Jr. has issued Department Order 2024-354, creating the Task Force to investigate any possible administrative misconduct or neglect by LGU officials with respect to their responsibilities under the Local Government Code and related laws in relation to the alleged illegal POGO operations in Bamban, Tarlac. The Task Force is led by Atty. Benjamin Zabala Jr. and its members are: Atty. Enrico Alday Jr., Atty. Ernest Godfrey L. Tejada, Atty. Mariel Jean T. Raneses, Atty. Jocelyn V. Reyes, Atty. Ramon Nonito Sa Ayo Jr., and Engr. Richard Cruz.
11 POGO vaults opened
Meanwhile, some P5,597,360,000 pesos and $444 in cash had been recovered in some of the 11 vaults that were forcibly opened on April 8, Monday at the former POGO compound. Executive Judge Hermenegildo C. Dumlao II of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 81, in Malolos City, has issued an order to “break open” the 27 vaults seized during the raid at the Zun Yuan Technolgy Inc. With no electricity, acetylene operators had pried open 11 of the 27 vaults. Of the first three vaults that were opened, the 3rd vault yielded the cash and several documents. Other vaults at the plush villas had yielded passports of former POGO workers who complained of illegal detention and torture. The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, the Criminal Investigation Division Group, and the Anti-Money Laundering Council led the opening of the vaults. PAOCC spokesman Winston Casio said “we were also looking for crypto wallets and seed phrases” where IGL workers allegedly hide millions of pesos derived from scamming activities such as love scam and fake crypto investments. Seed phrases are a sequence of random words that will gain access to crypto wallets. The former IGL facility is currently out of electricity and water supply.