Electricity bills of Bamban POGO hub named under Alice Guo 

The electricity bills of the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Bamban, Tarlac were found named under suspended Mayor Alice Guo, according to the Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC). 

In Jonathan Andal’s exclusive report on “24 Oras,” the electricity bills were dated from July to November 2023. 

The PAOCC also found a statement of account by the Tarlac II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (TARELCO II) dated February 2024 that was named under the controversial public official. 

Also found was a salary proposal for the housekeeping staff from a manpower agency dated June 20, 2022 and was addressed to Guo and the Baufo Land Development, Inc. 

“So, taliwas ito, doon sa sinabi niya na nag-divest na siya, even before pa siyang manalo na mayor ng Bamban,” said PAOCC chief Usec. Gilbert Cruz. 

(So this is contrary to what she said before that she already divested from the firm even before she won as mayor of Bamban.) 

“Kasi once na ikaw ang nagbabayad, siyempre, involved ka sa finances, sa management ng pera ng kumpanya,” he added. “Yes, of course, malaking ebidensya ito sa isasampa naming kaso.” 

(Because once you are the one paying the bills, of course, you are involved in the finances, in the management of the company’s finances [...] Yes, of course, this is a big evidence we can use in filing a case against her.) 

Guo previously said that before she ran in the mayoral race in Bamban in 2022, she already divested or sold all of her shares in Baofu Land, the company that owned the land where the raided POGO hub was situated.

GMA Integrated News contacted  TARELCO II and the Aresun Trading & Manpower Services to confirm the documents found at the Zun Yuan Technology, the operator of the raided POGO hub. 

Meanwhile, Guo’s lawyers told GMA Integrated News that they have not yet seen the said documents. 

Aside from Guo, PAOCC also found the name of Dennis Cunanan  —previously convicted of graft over the pork barrel scam —as an appointed authorized representative of both the raided POGO hubs in Bamban and in Porac, Pampanga. 

“Ako, yun ang lumalabas sa amin, ano, ah, parang isa lang ang may-ari ng dalawang POGO hubs na ito,” said Cruz. 

(For me, what we can deduce from this is that there could only be one owner of these two POGO hubs.) 

“And also we're looking at baka meron pa rin siyang ibang illegal POGO hubs na nire-represent, ano. So part ito ng investigation na ginagawa namin,” he added. 

(And also we’re looking at the possibility that he could also be representing other illegal POGO hubs. So this is part of the investigation we are doing.) 

The Department of the Interior and Local Government has issued a memorandum that reminded local government units of their authority to inspect businesses in their areas after Porac Mayor Jaime Capil earlier said that they tried to inspect the Lucky South 99 but they were not allowed to do so. 

“So I'm reminding all LGUs about these powers na kung maaari, tignan nila even to the barangay level. Kung kinakailangan nga, iisahin mo na yan. At ako rin sumulat dito kay Chief PNP na i-assist ang mga LGU nila dito,” said Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos. 

(So I’m reminding all LGUs about these powers that they can check them even up to the barangay level. If needed, they can inspect each one of them in their areas. I also wrote to the Chief PNP to assist these LGUs in doing this.) 

Based on the data by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, the DILG said that there are 43 licensed POGOs in the country that are mostly based in Metro Manila while one is in Kawit, Cavite.—Vince Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News