Alice Guo, 35 others sued for P7-billion money laundering scheme

FILE PHOTO: Alice Guo gestures during a hearing of a Senate panel investigating Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) on May 22, 2024. – Guo and 35 other people tagged in illegal Pogos were sued for 87 counts of money laundering before the Department of Justice (DOJ). The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (Paocc), and National Bureau of Investigation filed the complaints on Friday, August 30, 2024, according to DOJ Undersecretary Jesse Andres. INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — Alice Guo and 35 other people tagged in illegal offshore gaming operations were sued for 87 counts of money laundering before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (Paocc), and National Bureau of Investigation filed the complaints on Friday, according to DOJ Undersecretary Jesse Andres.

Aside from Guo, the named respondents in the complaint sheet included the ousted mayor’s supposed sister Shiela Guo; Cassandra Li Ong, an alleged incorporator of a Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo); Dennis Cunanan, who allegedly transacted for a Pogo; and directors and shareholders of Pogos and companies linked to Pogos where the alleged laundered money amounting to P7 billion passed through.

READ: Alice Guo, siblings gave ‘P200-M’ bribe to leave PH – Hontiveros

In a press conference, Andres said: “As you know, the filing of the money laundering offense takes deep study and investigation. That’s why it is only now that we are able to launch the case of money laundering. There is an extensive financial investigation behind this effort.”

“And now that the AMLC has completed, and in coordination with the DOJ and the other relevant agencies, we believe we have a very strong and airtight case of money laundering,” Andres added.

READ: Gatchalian: 36 Alice Guo accounts financed illegal Pogo

Guo was the alleged “principal” of the money laundering scheme as she supposedly used “several entities in transferring her money,” said DOJ Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking Prosecutor Benjamin Samson.

Samson said this filing is just the first among other money laundering complaints they intend to file against the Guos, Ong, Cunanan, and others.

Ong and Shiela’s involvement

When asked why Ong was included among the respondents, Samson said it is because Pogo entities in Porac, Pampanga, and Bamban, Tarlac, were found to be interconnected based on the investigation.

“So kung bakit kasama si Cassandra Ong dito sa money laundering, ‘yun ay dahil base sa investigation na ginawa ng NBI, AMLC, at ng Paocc, totoo nga may ebidensya na ang Bamban at Porac Pogo hubs ay iisa ang mga personalities na involved,” he said.

(So the reason why Cassandra Ong is involved in the money laundering is because based on an investigation conducted by the NBI, AMLC, and Paocc, there is indeed evidence showing that personalities involved in Bamban and Porac Pogo hubs are one.)

The money that was used to build Zu Yuan Pogo in Bamban from late 2019 to early 2021 was believed to come from profits from Lucky South in Porac.

Meanwhile, the principle of “conspiracy” was applied in the case explaining Shiela’s involvement.

“Siya ay isa sa mga incorporators ng lahat ng korporasyon ng pamilya Guo, at base sa investigation ng AMLC, ‘yung corporations ng pamilya Guho ay involved sa money laundering,” said Samson.

(She is one of the incorporators of all the corporations of the Guo family, and based on the AMLC investigation, the corporations of the Guo family are involved in money laundering.)

“So dahil ina-apply ang principle ng conspiracy dito sa kasong ito, naturally kasama ang buong pamilya,” he said.

(So because we are applying the principle of conspiracy in this case, naturally the whole family is included.)