Philippines Court Freezes Suspended Mayor’s Assets in POGO Probe

The Philippines’ Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has secured a freeze order from the Court of Appeals (CA) on the assets of suspended Mayor Alice Guo and other individuals allegedly linked to the illegal activities of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). According to the Anti-Money Laundering Council official statement (pdf), Mayor Alice Guo, along with Zhiyang Huang and Baoying Lin, was named in its petition.

Extensive asset freeze enacted:

The Court of Appeals’ freeze order, issued on July 10th, covers a wide array of assets, including 90 bank accounts across 14 financial institutions, various real estate properties, and high-value personal assets such as luxury vehicles and a helicopter.

The AMLC stated that this measure is intended to prevent the dissipation of assets during ongoing investigations and legal proceedings. The individuals involved are suspected of orchestrating human trafficking and fraudulent activities through three companies.

The investigation revealed significant financial transactions and assets accumulated by these individuals, further implicating them in money laundering, human trafficking, and other illegal operations, according to the AMLC.

Earlier this week, the Senate cited Alice Guo for contempt and ordered her arrest for repeatedly ignoring inquiries into illegal activities associated with the POGO business.

Alice Guo’s mayoral position was suspended while she remains under investigation by various government departments. However, she has twice missed the resumption of the Senate investigation into the case, citing illness and death threats as reasons for her absence.

Legal foundation for the freeze order:

The AMLC’s freeze order, issued by the Court of Appeals on July 10, 2024, followed a petition filed by the AMLC on July 9, 2024. This petition was filed under Section 10 of Republic Act No. 9160, also known as the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001, as amended, and Rule 10 of its 2018 Implementing Rules and Regulations (2018 IRR). The freeze order comes after extensive investigations and joint operations led by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).

Key individuals identified in the AMLC’s petition include Mayor Alice Leal Guo of Bamban Tarlac, Zhiyang Huang, and Baoying Lin. These individuals are suspected of orchestrating human trafficking and fraudulent activities through entities such as Zun Yuan Technology Inc., BAOFU Land Development Inc., and Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc. The investigation uncovered significant financial transactions and assets amassed by these individuals, as well as their involvement in money laundering, human trafficking, and other illicit operations.

As Asia Gaming Brief reports, the illicit activities linked to these individuals and entities include the operation of an unauthorized POGO at Zun Yuan Technology Inc. The investigation revealed that the company engaged in various illegal activities under the guise of POGO operations, including human trafficking, serious illegal detention, and online scam schemes. These operations were conducted within the premises of BAOFU Land Development Inc., which housed numerous workers, including trafficked individuals, who were forced to participate in fraudulent online activities.

“The Court of Appeals’ freeze order is a critical move in our fight against money laundering and related criminal activities. Freezing these assets protects the integrity of our institutions and shields the public from the harms of unlawful activities. Our persistent crackdown on illicit proceeds of criminal activities highlights our bid to protect the integrity of our financial system and ensures that those who perpetrate these crimes will not enjoy the proceeds,” stated Matthew David, AMLC Executive Director.

The AMLC remains committed to its mandate of combating money laundering and ensuring that the financial system is not used as a conduit for illicit activities. The issuance of the freeze order by the Court of Appeals stands as proof of the council’s resolve to uphold the rule of law and protect the public from the harmful effects of financial crimes.