Pasig court forfeits P3.9-B POGO compound after Alice Guo conviction

The Pasig City Regional Trial Court has ordered the forfeiture of the 7.9-hectare Baofu compound in Bamban, Tarlac — the site of extensive Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) activities — in favor of the government, in addition to convicting former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo of qualified human trafficking.

The compound, valued at P3.9 billion, consists of 36 buildings, including a shopping mall, KTV bar, grocery, and multiple underground tunnels with saferooms.

In her decision, Pasig RTC Branch 167 Presiding Judge Annielyn Medes-Cabelis ruled that the parcels of land and structures under Baofu Corporation are “criminally forfeited in favor of the State, without compensation, as these were used as the means of committing labor trafficking in these six cases.”

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) previously raided the hub — located roughly 800 meters from the Bamban Municipal Hall — uncovering alleged cryptocurrency fraud, money laundering, and systematic exploitation. The prosecution established that forced-to-scam workers lived and worked inside the facility.

The RTC emphasized that from the acquisition of the lots, the development of the compound already intended to facilitate labor trafficking. Investigators found underground tunnels designed for the escape of Baofu superiors and security features consistent with captivity.

The compound was described as “styled like a prison” — reinforced with high walls, multiple CCTV cameras, armed guards, and double gates. CCTV cameras were directed inward toward apartments and key facilities rather than outside entrances, and workers could not leave without the company’s knowledge or permission. The setup enabled a fully self-contained compound designed to prevent workers from going out.

Former Mayor Guo previously served as president of Baofu Land Development Inc., and her claim of divesting her stake was disputed during the trial.

Meanwhile, the court did not forfeit the additional 2.87-hectare property under Baofu because no evidence showed it was used in criminal activity or acquired through illegal proceeds.

Likewise, 58 vehicles, P7.9 million in cash and foreign currency, and thousands of devices seized in the compound were not forfeited.

The ruling also detailed how Guo and her co-accused — Huang Zhiyang, Zhang Ruijin, and Baoying Lin, who remain at large — organized and financed Baofu and directed others to engage in forced labor for online scamming operations. It further stated that Guo and the three fugitives were the beneficial owners of the raided POGO hubs Hongsheng and Zun Yuan, both located within the Baofu compound.