A potential link between Bamban Mayor Alice Guo and two recently raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in her municipality has sparked fresh controversy.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian urged the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to launch a thorough investigation into these ties. He cited official documents obtained by his office that suggest Mayor Guo’s possible involvement in the operations of a Tarlac-based POGO. These operators drew law enforcement attention after complaints of human trafficking and serious illegal detention prompted separate raids.
One of the documents includes a Sangguniang Bayan Resolution dated September 2020, which approved then-private citizen Guo’s application to operate Hongsheng Gaming Technology, Inc. Authorities raided this establishment in February 2023 and later identified it as Zun Yuan Technology, Inc.—the same site involved in a more recent operation.
Further strengthening suspicions, authorities recovered a vehicle list from Zun Yuan Tech that included a Ford Expedition registered under Guo’s name. The local Land Transportation Office (LTO) confirmed the registration. Additionally, investigators discovered an electricity bill exceeding PHP 15.1 million addressed to Mayor Guo. The bill, issued by a local power supplier, covered the period from September 2023 to February 2024 and was found on the Zun Yuan premises.
Gatchalian emphasized that local officials must focus on crime prevention and avoid entanglement with questionable industries such as POGOs. Drawing from his experience as a former mayor, he stressed the need for public trust and responsible governance.
As a result, Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, introduced a Senate resolution to formally initiate an inquiry. This legislative investigation will focus on allegations of human trafficking, serious illegal detention, physical abuse, and torture at the Zun Yuan site in Bamban, Tarlac.
This controversy highlights the urgent need for transparency and clear boundaries between public officials and private sector interests—especially in the online gaming space. Proper governance remains essential to ensure accountability and protect the public.
