The Philippine Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality recently released an investigative report recommending criminal prosecution against certain government officials for allegedly providing shelter to Guo Huaping and her accomplices, aiding their successful escape from the Philippines.
The committee detailed in Report No. 514 the issues of human trafficking involving Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), and named some corrupt officials who may have colluded with Guo Huaping.
Committee member Hontiveros stated, "Without the protection from within the government, the illegal activities of Guo Huaping and POGO could not have expanded to this extent. These corrupt officials must be thoroughly investigated and held accountable."
The committee's report also demanded that the Bureau of Immigration (BI) immediately submit a detailed report to the Senate on the measures taken regarding Guo Huaping's escape from the Philippines, the alleged illegal assistance by BI personnel to POGO workers entering the country, and the trafficking of Filipinos to overseas fraud groups. Hontiveros emphasized, "The issue of human trafficking has existed in the Bureau of Immigration for many years and has never been fundamentally resolved. With the entry of POGO, the situation has worsened. The Bureau must take real action, not just pay lip service."
The report also proposed stricter penalties for public officials involved in forging birth certificates and other identity documents, especially those assisting illegal POGO activities from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Hontiveros stressed, "The actions of these officials directly contribute to human trafficking, and they should not only receive minor penalties but must face the appropriate criminal charges."
The report further disclosed that the Mayor of Sur City, Criseldo Calugay, was also implicated in the case, with his subordinates allegedly helping Guo Huaping forge affidavits and notarize them, even though Guo herself never personally attended.
Hontiveros finally warned, "If we do not thoroughly investigate the corrupt elements within the government, similar criminal groups will continue to operate in the Philippines, ultimately harming innocent people. All officials involved must pay a price to serve as a deterrent."
