Hontiveros hails conviction of Alice Guo, cohorts

Senator Risa Hontiveros has lauded the conviction of former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo and three others, calling it a victory against corruption, human trafficking, cybercrime, and other transnational crimes.

“Ngayon, hindi na sila makakaulit. This Senate investigation delivered unprecedented results: it helped secure a presidential executive order banning POGOs, provided evidence towards a guilty verdict, sending a criminal to prison for life, and contributed to the passage of the Anti-POGO Law of 2025,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

The lawmaker said she considers the Senate hearings that helped indict Guo as “one of the most consequential Senate inquiries of my life’s work so far.”

Aside from Guo, those convicted by the Pasig RTC Branch 167 on Thursday were Rachelle Malonzo Carreon, Jaimielyn Cruz, and Walter Wong Rong.

“Maraming salamat sa mga biktima, witnesses, at whistleblowers naglakas loob tumestigo sa Senado. Our deepest gratitude to our prosecutors at the DOJ who brought this case to justice. Sa ating mga law enforcers na hindi nagsawang mag-imbestiga, mag-raid, at mag-rescue, maraming salamat sa inyo,” Hontiveros said.

“Bilang Chairperson ng Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality na nanguna sa imbestigasyon, this makes me feel hopeful about the work we do. But it is far from over,” she added.

Hontiveros said the Senate will continue to demand accountability from government agencies that failed in their duties and will further investigate the full extent of Chinese intelligence operations in the country.

“And to all others who enabled Alice Guo’s criminal empire: the Philippines is not a playground for exploitation, infiltration, and espionage. Accountability is coming. Justice always finds a way,” she said.