AMLC Files Money Laundering Case Vs. Mayor Alice Guo amid Several Issues
ALICE GUO – The Anti-Money Laundering Council filed a case against the suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor after billions were transferred to her accounts.
One of the most popular mayors in the Philippines now is Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Guo who is currently suspended from her post as she faces several issues. The Mayor is accused of involvement in the illegal Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGOs) in the country.
Guo is also being questioned about her identity. She cannot recall where she was born and the inconsistencies in her testimonies and documents trigger more questions. Guo’s fingerprints also matched the fingerprints of Guo Hua Ping according to the National Bureau of Investigation.
The matching fingerprints between the suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor and Guo Hua Ping suggests that they are the same person. Recently, she decided to skip a Senate hearing.
According to Attorney Stephen David, suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo didn’t want to attend the Senate hearing as she was “traumatized”. He also claimed that his claims is physically and emotionally drained from the many allegations against her.
Prior to the scheduled hearing by the upper chamber, Senator Risa Hontiveros reminded Guo and her lawyers that they are obligated to respect the Philippine laws. While the camp of the Mayor asserted that the move to skip the Senate hearing is self-incrimination, the Senator cited that it is recognized when a question is being raised.
After skipping the Senate hearing, Mayor Alice Guo was cited in contempt and an arrest order is being sought by the Senate committee that handles the case. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) also filed a money laundering case against Mayor Guo.
The money laundering charge against the suspended Mayor came after billions were transferred to her accounts from 2019 to 2024. Based on the article, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian revealed that she has 36 bank accounts and while nothing is wrong with it, he finds the flow of the money in the said accounts suspicious.
Furthermore, the Senator questions that Guo’s corporations were not making money as supposedly stated in their income statements. Reportedly, a big part of the millions that entered Guo’s accounts were allegedly traced from China.
The AMLC recently confirmed that the Court of Appeals released a Freeze Order on Mayor Alice Guo’s assets as well as the assets of the other individuals and companies accused of illegal POGO links.