Alice Guo, others denied bail; DOJ elated

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

FILE: Ex-mayor Alice Guo during the public hearing of the House of Representatives quad committee at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Thursday (Sept. 19, 2024). (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)

MANILA – Dismissed mayor Alice Guo’s petition for bail has been denied by a Pasig court, a decision that the Department of Justice (DOJ) called a “milestone” in the fight against human trafficking.

Guo and her co-accused face charges of qualified human trafficking in connection with a June raid on a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Bamban, Tarlac, where 800 Filipino and foreign workers were rescued.

The lower court presiding judge deemed the prosecution’s evidence “strong” in rejecting the bail petition, according to the DOJ.

“This marks significant progress in our commitment to deliver real justice, highlighting the importance of collaboration between prosecutors and law enforcement in building stronger cases,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said in a statement over the weekend.

Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty, who oversees the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, called the ruling a milestone in the country’s anti-trafficking efforts.

“This decision underscores our resolve to hold accountable those financing and supporting human trafficking, along with their co-conspirators,” Ty said.