Former Bamban mayor faces more raps

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed falsification charges against dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice L. Guo before the Department of Justice (DoJ) on Wednesday in connection with her acquisition of several real estate properties in Pangasinan.

NBI spokesperson Ferdinand M. Lavin confirmed that the NBI, along with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), filed a joint complaint against Guo for falsifying public documents under Section 171 of the Revised Penal Code, and for violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Guo, along with 38 others, including seven officials of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), was also charged with violation of Republic Act 9208, the Anti-Trafficking Act.

According to Lavin, the complaint stemmed from Guo’s false claims during the acquisition of the properties as evidenced in three deeds of sale where she presented herself as a Filipino citizen named Alice Guo, when in fact she was Guo Hua Ping, a Chinese national.

Lavin said the charges were related to three properties located in Sual, Pangasinan, which are now the subject of forfeiture proceedings. While the exact value of the properties remains unclear, Lavin noted that they were sizable and were linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) scam operations.

The complaint also named seven PAGCOR officers — Mark Christian M. Lobos, Roldan D. Palma, Marvin S. Panganiban, Ronnie F. Sadang, Anthony T. Taylo, Randy D. Pasion and Mac Jerwin Austria -— for their alleged involvement in human trafficking.

They were implicated in the criminal operations of Zun Yuan Technology Center, a POGO in Bamban that was raided and shut down by authorities.

Lavin said the POGO facility that was registered and issued a permit by Pagcor was involved in fraudulent activities.

He said many POGO employees were coerced into conducting scam operations, and deceptive practices were used to present the facility as a legitimate operation.