The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) of the Philippines announced on September 4 that new criminal and administrative charges have been filed against former Banban Mayor Alice Guo and 35 local officials, accusing them of serious illegal activities in land transactions related to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).
NBI Director Jaime Santiago stated that the accused include the vice mayor during Guo's tenure, city councilors, as well as former mayors and other officials from her previous terms. The case accuses them of violating Section 3(g) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Article 216 of the Revised Penal Code, involving conflicts of interest, and they will also face serious misconduct, grave dishonesty, and damage to public interest administrative charges.
The investigation revealed that the land involved was valued at 3.9 billion pesos, but the actual real estate tax paid was only 10,000 pesos, with no taxes paid on the construction part. Santiago emphasized that this transaction caused "extremely serious damage" to the government.
Currently, the NBI "Alice Guo Task Force" is continuously gathering evidence and has prepared to file three criminal charges and three administrative charges, with more cases possibly being added in the future. The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) also provided key documents during a previous joint raid, advancing the case's progress.
Santiago noted: "The case is still expanding, and we will hold the relevant personnel accountable one by one." This incident not only plunges Alice Guo into a vortex but also reignites societal concerns about the dark dealings of POGO land transactions and corruption among local officials.
