Alice Guo, former mayor of Bamban and Tarlac, faced severe questioning at the Philippine Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian presented bills from the Tarlac II Electric Cooperative (Tarelco) showing that Guo paid millions of pesos in electricity bills for the Bamban POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator) center during her tenure as mayor.
According to the investigation, Guo made payments on several dates, including:
December 29, 2022: Cash payment of 28 million pesos
September 21, 2022: Check payment of 5.4 million pesos
July 2023: Check payment of 6.4 million pesos
July 26, 2023: Check payment of 31.7 million pesos
January 4, 2024: Cash payment of 3.44 million pesos
January 8, 2024: Check payment of 5.308 million pesos
Gatchalian pointed out that Guo continued to pay for the gaming center's electricity during her tenure, contradicting her previous claims of having no involvement with the gaming center. He stated, "The gaming center cannot operate without electricity, and Guo's payments supported its operations, indirectly supporting human trafficking and other illegal activities."
Guo did not respond to these allegations, stating she already faces multiple legal charges related to the Bamban gaming center and prefers not to discuss the matter further.
Additionally, the senator revealed that companies owned by Guo, including QJJ Farm and QSeed Genetics, also paid substantial electricity bills to Tarelco over several years. These companies were not listed in Guo's declaration of assets and liabilities, further raising questions about her role in the gaming center's operations.
Despite Gatchalian's severe accusations, Guo maintains she has no ties to the gaming center and claims she divested from Baofu Land Development, the company that owned the land for building the gaming center, before becoming mayor.
Guo is currently facing charges of corruption, money laundering, and human trafficking. She was arrested in Indonesia on September 4, 2024, and extradited to the Philippines on September 6, where she is now detained by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
