DOJ Takes Guo’s Qualified Trafficking Case to Court; SOJ Remulla Wins SC Nod to Transfer POGO Cases from Bamban, Tarlac to NCR

16 September 2024

Finding a reasonable certainty of conviction based on available records and witnesses, the Department of Justice (DOJ) will be pursuing non-bailable qualified human trafficking charges against dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo and several others for violation of Republic Act (RA) 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, as amended.

DOJ Undersecretary-in-Charge of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) Nicholas Felix L. Ty said the charges will be filed next week before the appropriate Regional Trial Court (RTC).

The charges stemmed from the complaint filed by the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).

Under the present law governing trafficking in persons, individuals who organize an establishment engaged in human trafficking may be held accountable for human trafficking despite not having direct participation in criminal activities such as torture, rape, forced labor and other related acts.

Aside from Guo, others to be charged in court are her business partners including Huang Zhiyang, the foreign national identified as the “boss of all bosses” of illegal Pogos by the PAOCC and a sitting Philippine Senator.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" C. Remulla has secured the Supreme Court's (SC) approval to transfer the cases lodged before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 66 of Capas, Tarlac to the National Capital Region (NCR).

In a letter dated 22 April 2024 addressed to the Honorable Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, Secretary Remulla urged the High Court to transfer to Metro Manila criminal case numbers 9855-9857 (PP vs Ma The Pong, Wang Weili, Lang Xu et. al) which are handled by the RTC of Capas, Tarlac.

The Secretary cited the pressing need to safeguard national interest and ensure fairness in the justice system considering these high profile cases exceed local boundaries which affect national security and general policies.

In addition, SOJ Remulla emphasized the importance of preserving the integrity of trial proceedings by preventing possible local biases or undue influences thereto with the utilization of a neutral venue along with the court's blessing.

In view of the foregoing, the SC found the request of SOJ Remulla to be meritorious and granted the same by ordering the RTC Branch 66 of Capas, Tarlac to transfer all the files related to the disputed cases to the Pasig City RTC.

"I commend the SC for their unwavering commitment to safeguard the laws of the land in order to avoid the miscarriage of justice, the DOJ vows that we will prosecute these cases with burning resolve and integrity," Remulla averred.

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