AMLC to probe Alice Guo’s alleged P23-M downpayment for Baguio property

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) said it will look into an alleged transaction between dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo and property development company Alphaland Corporation for a property in Baguio City.

During the inquiry of the House quad-committee on Thursday, Manila Representative Bienvenido Abante showed a copy of the check Guo paid as a downpayment for the said property.

Earlier reports quoting Senator Jinggoy Estrada said the property, purportedly a loghouse, is priced at P85 million.

"[We will] include [the check] in our investigation and that is highly appreciated, sir... We will look into whether that contract [with Alphaland] has been consummated, your honor," AMLC Investigating and Enforcement Department Deputy Director Adrian Arpon said.

GMA News Online has reached out to the Alphaland Corporation for comment.

The quad-committee is composed of four panels of the House of Representatives formed to look into the links among Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, Chinese syndicates, illegal drug trade, and extrajudicial killings in the country.

When questioned about the alleged property, Guo explained that the transaction did not continue past a downpayment paid with a check.  She also denied that the property was named under “Anne Jaime.”

“Alphaland Management agreed to have the property of Alice Guo transferred from her name to the corporation. Yun po ang ginawa niyo, inaprubahan po ito ng assistant vice-chairman, (That is what you did, it was approved by the assistant vice-chairman)” Abante said.

He also refused to name the said corporation and presented Guo with a copy of the alleged check used to pay the downpayment.

“Sinabi naman niya na cheke niya ito. Sinabi niya na nakalagay Alice Leal Guo. Sinabi mo na cheke mo ito at ibinayad mo ito,” he said.

(She said that it was her cheque. She said that Alice Leal Guo was written there. You said that this was your cheque and that you paid this)

The former mayor invoked her right against self-incrimination on questions about other bank transactions due to her existing money laundering cases.

“Your honor, lahat po kasi ng personal banks ko ay may kaso ako sa AMLC po… kaya I invoke my right against self-incrimination,” she said.

(Your honor, I have a pending case with the AMLC… I invoke my right against self-incrimination.)

“Since isasama niyo na po siya sa kaso, I have the right to refuse to answer po dahil pagka-sinama na po yan sa susunod po, it might incriminate myself po,” she added.

(Since you will now include this in the case, I have the right to refuse to answer because if you include this next time, I might incriminate myself.)

The Court of Appeals (CA) in July, issued a freeze order on the assets of Guo and two others for alleged links to illegal POGO operations.  The petition for the assets freeze was filed by the AMLC.

The said freeze order covered around 90 bank accounts in 14 financial institutions, several real estate properties, and high-value personal properties like luxury vehicles, and a helicopter. 

Early this week, the CA extended its freeze order on the bank accounts and assets of Guo until January 10, 2025. —LDF, GMA Integrated News