Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo underwent a booking procedure and medical examination at Camp Crame following a court order for her transfer to the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory. The transfer was ordered by the Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 167, which is handling Guo’s non-bailable case of qualified human trafficking.
However, the transfer did not proceed on Friday night as planned, as the Philippine National Police (PNP) had yet to complete the necessary documentary requirements, including Guo’s medical assessment. Jail Chief Inspector Jayrex Joseph Bustinera, spokesperson for the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), stated that the BJMP remained on standby to execute the transfer once all documents were ready. “According to the PNP, they were unable to complete all the requirements, and the BJMP is on standby this weekend. Anytime once they are ready, we will proceed with the transfer,” said Bustinera.
Upon transfer, Guo will be sharing the detention facility with 44 other inmates, although the area was originally designed to accommodate only nine detainees, raising concerns about overcrowding in the facility.
Earlier on Friday, Guo posted bail of P540,000 for her graft charges, which are currently pending before the Valenzuela City Regional Trial Court Branch 282. Her arraignment for the graft charges, scheduled for the same day, was postponed after her legal team filed a motion to quash the information. Both parties have been given until Wednesday, September 25, to submit their comments on the motion.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, in a statement released Saturday, praised the Pasig City RTC’s order as well as the filing of the qualified human trafficking case against Guo. She described it as a significant victory for victims of human trafficking. “This is a big win for the victims of human trafficking who were forced to work in the POGO scam hub in Bamban, Tarlac,” Hontiveros said. “As the author of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, I am glad that this law is proving beneficial.”
Hontiveros also commended the efforts of the Department of Justice (DOJ), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), for their roles in combating POGO-related crimes and bringing charges against Guo and others involved.
“Guo Hua Ping, you have no more excuses,” Hontiveros added. “There will be at least one more hearing. Take this opportunity to finally tell the whole truth.”