Alice Guo’s camp, ex-DILG exec argue over issuance of permit to POGO hub

The camp of dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo and a former official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday exchanged words over the issuance of a business permit to a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) that was involved in illegal activities.

During the continuation of the hearing into Guo’s graft case at a Valenzuela regional trial court, the prosecution presented former DILG Undersecretary Juan Victor Llamas, based on a report of Maki Pulido on Super Radyo dzBB.

Pagdinig sa kasong katiwalian laban kay dating Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, ipinagpatuloy ng Valenzuela City RTC. | via @makipulido pic.twitter.com/oDnd7uFbwR

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) February 4, 2025

Guo’s legal counsel said Zun Yuan Technology Inc. previously submitted an affidavit of undertaking recognizing that there were still lacking documents to secure a business permit in the locality, but those were already in “substantial compliance.”

Llamas admitted that it was his first time seeing the document in court proceedings as it was not provided to the DILG when Guo’s case was being investigated.

The ex-DILG official, however, stressed that an undertaking does not show enough proof for Guo to issue a business permit to the company. He reiterated that the former mayor should have revoked the business permit when POGO-related issues were emerging to the public.

To recall, Guo and two other municipal officials were suspended for up to six months by the Office of the Ombudsman for issuing a permit to the operators of the POGO company despite lacking the necessary documents and a provisional license from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

Llamas further said that based on the documents they have gathered, Guo was still listed as president of Zun Yuan Technology Inc. and Baofu Land Development Inc.

A Sangguniang Bayan Resolution dated September 2020 contained the council's approval of the application supposedly made by Guo, who was then a private citizen, for a license to operate Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc.

The Hongsheng offices were raided in February 2023. The same compound was then used by Zun Yuan Technology Inc., the company that was itself raided in March 2024.

Last month, Guo’s camp tried to block the prosecution from presenting four Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) personnel from testifying during her graft case hearing.

Guo’s camp argued that the presentation of the BIR employees had no connection with the graft charges being faced by the dismissed mayor. However, Valenzuela City RTC Judge Orven Kuan Ontalan allowed their presentation during the previous hearing.

Her graft case stemmed from the complaint filed by the DILG over her alleged involvement in the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Bamban.

The former mayor was not physically nor virtually present during Tuesday's hearing because it coincided with another hearing at the Pasig Regional Trial Court.

It was the Department of Justice (DOJ) that filed a qualified human trafficking case against Guo at the Pasig RTC in September 2024.

Guo is also facing a material misrepresentation case before a Tarlac court. A quo warranto petition was also filed against her with a Manila court, as well as a petition to cancel her birth certificate before a Tarlac court.

She is also facing a tax evasion complaint and a perjury and falsification complaint before the DOJ.

Guo has denied all charges against her. —RF, GMA Integrated News