Philippines! human trafficking, scams, pogo, Alice Guo(郭华萍) 2024.10.29-12.1

PAOCC helping 15 kids abandoned by foreign POGO workers

Fifteen very young children are seeking support from the government after their foreigner fathers who were former Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) workers were deported, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said Sunday.

PAOCC executive director Gilbert Cruz said the children, whose mothers are Filipinas, range from infants to three years old.

“Itong 15 bata na ‘to mga anak ito nung mga dating POGO workers na pina-deport natin. Every week, pumupunta sa amin ‘yan, humihingi ng pang-gatas, pang-pampers, minsan ‘yung iba pambayad pa ng apartment nila,” Cruz said in a Super Radyo dzBB.
(These 15 are children of former POGO workers who got deported. Every week, they come to us asking money for milk, diapers, and sometimes even to pay for their apartment rent.)

“Hindi naman nating pwedeng tanggihan ‘yan kasi nga ano sila, naging collateral damage o naging problema sila na binunga nitong illegal POGO operations dito sa atin,” he added.
(We can’t turn them away because they have become collateral damage or a problem brought about by the illegal POGO operations in our country.)

The PAOCC official said they are not letting the children stay inside their detention center, but they provide them the support they need. He said they are also now coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regarding the matter.

According to Cruz, nearly 200 POGO hubs are still operating in the country. There are also around 700 individuals who are under PAOCC’s custody, and 250 of them are set to be deported next week.

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PAOCC 帮助 15 名被外国 POGO 工人遗弃的孩子

总统反有组织犯罪委员会（PAOCC）周日表示，15 名幼童正在向政府寻求帮助，原因是他们的外国父亲曾是菲律宾离岸博彩运营商（POGO）的工作人员，后来被驱逐出境。

PAOCC 执行董事吉尔伯特·克鲁兹 (Gilbert Cruz) 表示，这些儿童的母亲都是菲律宾人，年龄从婴儿到三岁不等。

据克鲁兹称，该国仍有近 200 个 POGO 中心在运营。此外，还有约 700 人受到 PAOCC 的监管，其中 250 人将于下周被驱逐出境。

Indonesia deports Filipino fugitive wanted for $68-m scam
November 27, 2024

Jakarta, Indonesia—Indonesian immigration authorities deported Wednesday Filipino fugitive Hector Aldwin Liao Pantollana, who was charged with defrauding thousands of people out of $68 million dollars in a casino-related scheme.

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印尼驱逐一名涉嫌诈骗 6800 万美元的菲律宾逃犯

印尼雅加达——印尼移民局周三将菲律宾逃犯赫克托·阿尔德温·廖·潘托拉纳 (Hector Aldwin Liao Pantollana) 驱逐出境，他被指控在赌场相关计划中诈骗数千人 6800 万美元。

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Filipino fugitive wanted for US$68 million scam arrested in Indonesia
26 Nov 2024

Hector Aldwin Liao Pantollana was involved in a Ponzi scheme that promised high returns for investing in the casino junket industry.

JAKARTA: Indonesia’s immigration office said it handed an Interpol-listed fugitive over to Philippines’ authorities on Tuesday, after he was charged with defrauding thousands of people out of US$68 million dollars in a casino-related scheme.

According to the Philippines securities and exchange commission, Hector Aldwin Liao Pantollana was involved in a Ponzi scheme that promised high returns for investing in the casino junket industry – which recruits high rollers to gamble.

Criminal charges were filed against Pantollana in May, but Philippines’ authorities said he had long since fled the country.

He was detained on Nov 9 on Indonesia’s holiday resort island of Bali as he attempted to board a plane to Hong Kong, according to acting director general of the Indonesian immigration office, Saffar Muhammad Godam.

“From the data, we found out that he had entered Indonesia through Ngurah Rai International Airport on Oct 10,” Saffar said at a press conference also attended by the secretary of Interpol’s local office.

Saffar said the Interpol red list-wanted fugitive was handed over to the Philippines embassy on Tuesday and will be flown home on Wednesday.

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涉嫌詐騙6800萬美元 菲華裔通緝犯印尼落網

圖為涉及菲律濱數百萬美元投資詐騙案的嫌犯潘托拉納昨日在印尼移民局人員押解下會見記者。

法新社雅加達26日電：印尼移民局表示，已於週二將一名國際刑警組織名單上的逃犯移交給菲律濱當局。此前，此人被控在一起與賭場有關的騙局中，詐騙了數千人的6800萬美元。

據菲律濱證券交易署稱，赫克托·奧爾德溫·廖·潘托拉納(Hector Aldwin Liao Pantollana，音)參與了一個龐氏騙局，該騙局承諾投資賭場中介業獲得高額回報，該行業招募豪賭客賭博。

今年5月，潘托拉納遭到刑事指控，但菲律濱當局表示，他早已逃離菲律濱。

據印尼移民局代理局長薩法爾·穆罕默德·戈達姆稱，他於11月9日在印尼度假勝地峇厘島試圖登上飛往香港的飛機時被拘留。

薩法爾在新聞發佈會上說：“根據數據，我們發現他於10月10日通過烏古拉萊國際機場進入印尼。”國際刑警組織當地辦事處秘書也出席了新聞發佈會。

薩法爾說，國際刑警組織紅色通緝犯星期二被移交給菲律濱大使館，星期三將乘飛機回國。

Over 21K foreign POGO workers already downgraded visas — BI

Earlier, foreign POGO workers were given until October 15, 2024 to downgrade their 9G visas to tourist visas following the ban on POGO operations. Over 12,000 applied for the downgrade last month.

“From the time the pronouncement was made, the total number of foreign nations who filed for the downgrading of their visas is 21,757. Of these individuals, 10,821 have already left the country,”

Visa downgrading will allow foreigners to revert their status from work visa to a temporary visitor visa, which will allow them to legally work in the Philippines for a 59-day period.

Citing data from PAGCOR and the Department of Labor and Employment, the Department of Finance earlier found that there were 66,547 POGO employees in the country as of 2023. The majority of these employees or 41,347 were foreign nationals, while the remaining 25,200 were Filipinos.

The legal basis for POGO operations in the country is set to expire by the end of the year, after which a ban will take effect.

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BI(移民局)：超过 21,000 名外国 POGO 工人的签证已被降级

此前，由于禁止 POGO 运营，外国 POGO 员工必须在 2024 年 10 月 15 日之前将 9G 签证降级为旅游签证。“自宣布这一消息以来，申请降低签证级别的外国人总数已达 21,757 人。其中，10,821 人已经离开该国，”

签证降级将允许外国人将其身份从工作签证恢复为临时访问签证，这将允许他们在菲律宾合法工作 59 天。

财政部此前援引 PAGCOR 和劳工就业部的数据发现，截至 2023 年，该国共有 66,547 名 POGO 员工。这些员工中，大多数（41,347 人）是外国人，其余 25,200 人是菲律宾人。

该国 POGO 运营的法律基础将于今年年底到期，之后禁令将生效。

Deportation proceedings ni Alice Guo, ipinahihinto ng kanyang abogado

Wala nang suot na Kevlar helmet at bullet-proof vest ng dumating sa kanyang deportation hearing si dating Bamban mayor Alice Guo nitong umaga ng Biyernes.

Pero marami pa ring security ng Philippine National Police (PNP) at Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) sa paligid.

Ang pagdinig ay kaugnay sa mga Immigration document ni Guo, umanoy overstaying at deportation case sa Bureau of Immigration.

Kaya’t bukod sa mga opisyal ng Bureau of Immigration, BJMP, dumating din ang mga kawani ng Department of Foreign Affairs dahil kasama sa pagdinig ay ang clarification ng kanyang birth certificate.

Umpisa pa lang ng pagdinig, hiniling ng abogado ni Guo na si Atty. Stephen David na ma-kansela na ang deportation proceedings dahil ginigiit niyang Pilipino si Guo.

Kinekwestyon din nila ang mga dokumentong naunang na-iprisinta ng NBI kaugnay sa kanyang fingerpints.

“I’m asking the immigration to dismiss this case, what if ma-discover na Pilipino talaga siya? What if that country like China will not accept her? They can say she’s not a Chinese citizen. Wala naman sinasabi ang Chinese embassy na Chinese siya. Why can’t they wait for the decision of the court that her document if it is fraudulent? Paano nga kung Filipino siya, saan mo siya ide-deport? Unfair naman yon I deport siya sa country na hindi siya na re recognize doon magiging stateless siya,” sabi ni David.

Tinanong din ni David kung ano nga ba ang mangyayari sakaling ma-deport ang kanyang kliyenteng si Guo.

Pero ayon kay Immigration Board of Special Inquiry head na si Atty Gilbert Repizo na masyado pang maaga sagutin ang kanyang tanong.

“We don’t anticipate and we don’t paint advanced scenario, saka na natin problemahin,“ sagot ni Repizo sa hearing.

Binigyan ng Immigration ang kampo ni Guo ng 15 araw na maghanda ng mga ebidensya na magpapatunay na Pilipino talaga siya.

“The board gave them 15 working days na i-substantiate yung sinasabi nila, because statements can be perjured, documents can be falsified. Data can be misrepresented… But you cannot alter biological imprints. Kung ihi mo, ihi mo. Laway mo, laway mo. Buhok mo, buhok mo. Thumbprint mo, thumbprint mo . This is more precise because this is covered by forensic science. Inexamine sa laboratory, so doon kami nagtatalo,” ayon kay Repizo.

Ayon naman kay David, may kaso na sa Bamban RTC kaugnay sa birth certificate ni Guo. Hiling niya ay hintayin na lang ang desisyon ng korte.

“I was repeatedly manifesting right now they have file a case sa Bamban RTC questioning Alice Guo. There’s a document that she’s a Filipino. Why don’t they wait for it?“ dagdag ni David.

Kaugnay naman sa kalagay ni Guo sa Pasig City Jail, sinabi ni David na nalulungkot ang dating mayor sa loob pero hindi umano sya pinanghihinaan ng loob.

“Malungkot, pero very strong-willed. Very malalim ang paniniwala po nyan sa Panginoon. Her conviction is…basta wala naman siyang sinaktan na tao, wala naman siyang ninakaw. Lahat yan pagsubok lang ng Panginoon.”

Ang tanging hiling lang ni Guo sa pasok ayon sa kanyang abogado ay makauwi. “Makauwi na… sa kanyang farm,” dagdag ni David.

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前班班市长郭华萍于本周五早上抵达驱逐听证会时，不再佩戴凯夫拉头盔和防弹背心。

但周围仍有大量菲律宾国家警察 (PNP) 和监狱管理与刑罚局 (BJMP) 的保安人员。

此次听证会涉及郭的移民文件、涉嫌逾期居留和移民局驱逐出境的案件。

听证会开始，郭的律师斯蒂芬·大卫表示，驱逐程序应取消，因为他坚称郭是菲律宾人。

他们还质疑国调局之前提交的有关她指纹的文件。

“我要求移民局驳回此案，如果发现他真的是菲律宾人怎么办？如果中国这样的国家不接受她怎么办？他们可以说她不是中国公民。中国大使馆并没有说她是中国人。为什么不能等待法院判决她的文件是否存在欺诈？如果她是菲律宾人，你会把她驱逐到哪里？这是不公平的，把她驱逐到一个不承认她的国家，她将成为无国籍人，”大卫说。
大卫还问，如果他的当事人郭被驱逐出境，会发生什么。

移民局给郭的团队 15 天的时间准备证据，证明她确实是菲律宾人。

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Dispute NBI fingerprint findings, Guo camp told

The Bureau of Immigration’s Board of Special Inquiry has given Alice Guo’s camp 15 days to present evidence that contradicts the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) findings on the similarity of her fingerprints to those of one Guo Hua Ping.

Board of Special Inquiry chair Gilberto Respizo issued the order during a hearing at the Bureau of Immigration (BI) office in Intramuros, Manila, on Thursday morning.

Respizo said the BI has documents showing that Guo is not a Filipino citizen, as she claims, and that her documents appeared to be falsified.

He said the evidence presented by the special prosecutor indicated that Guo and Guo Hua Ping were the same person, based on the forensic findings of the NBI.

“Fingerprinting is one of the methods of identification,” Respizo said.

The 15-day deadline was set after Stephen David, Guo’s counsel, argued that the findings should be challenged in court, as the case regarding his client’s true nationality was still pending.

David urged the board to halt the deportation proceedings, arguing that it is premature for the BI to decide on Guo’s deportation while the case is still being heard in court.

“My question is, what will happen to my client if the court finds that she is indeed a Filipino citizen? According to a ruling by the United Nations, she might be considered a foundling or have no country to turn to,” David said.

Nevertheless, Respizo stood firm, telling David that he must present evidence to counter the NBI’s findings, adding that the Department of Foreign Affairs had already suspended Guo’s passport based on the available documents.

David countered that Guo had a valid certificate of live birth, which was the basis for her being issued official documents, including a passport.

Respizo said that a decision on Guo’s deportation has not yet been made, as she must first resolve the pending legal cases in court.

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郭华萍阵营对国调局指纹调查结果提出异议

国家调查局指纹鉴定部门负责人 Alfredo Kahanding 博士和律师 Angelito Magno 向参议院通报了对市长 Alice Guo、Guo Hua Ping 和 Alice Leal Guo 进行指纹鉴定的情况，强调了指纹的独特性。他们指出：“每个指纹都是独一无二的；即使是双胞胎的指纹也不同。”照片由 JOHN LOUIE ABRINA拍摄

移民局特别调查委员会已要求艾丽斯·郭（Alice Guo）的团队 15 天时间提供证据，反驳国家调查局（NBI）关于艾丽斯·郭的指纹与郭华萍的指纹相似性的调查结果。

BI: Still no info on aircraft that flew Alice Guo to Malaysia

Four months after dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo fled the Philippines, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) still has no information about the aircraft that flew her to Malaysia.

This was disclosed by the BI through Senator Grace Poe during the continuation of the Senate plenary deliberations on the proposed 2025 national budget on Wednesday, when Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada asked the bureau for updates on Guo’s escape in July.

“What was confirmed is that she entered Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, [but] the actual flight, they are still going through official channels to verify the aircraft and they are trying to cooperate with Kuala Lumpur to get that information,” Poe, who defends the BI’s proposed budget, said.

“Tayo, wala tayong flight number or manifest na nakaalis siya ng ating bansa,” Poe lamented, noting that the Philippine authorities are “letting the others do the job for us.”

(We don’t have a flight number or a manifest showing that she had left the country.)

Guo, under investigation by the Senate for her alleged involvement in the POGO activities in Bamban, fled for Malaysia in July. She was arrested in Indonesia on September 4 and brought back to the Philippines. She is currently detained at the Pasig City Jail.

During the Senate investigation on POGOs in October, BI Commissioner Joel Viado said Guo entered Malaysia via a flight that landed on July 18, 2024.

This is contrary to the testimony of Guo and her purported sister Shiela Guo, who claimed that they left the country by taking several boats in the first week of July.

It was Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros who first disclosed that Guo had left the country last July through a privilege speech.

Estrada reiterated his theory that Guo might have used a small airport to flee the Philippines via chartered flight.

“I’ve said this, I’ve mentioned this every time we have this hearing, Alice Guo might have escaped using a private plane going through a small airport like for example Samar or basta ‘yung maliliit na airstrips na kayang mag-landing ang maliliit na eroplano na walang bantay na CAAP, na walang bantay na tao ng Bureau of Immigration,” he said.

(Alice Guo might have escaped using a private plane going through a small airport like the ones in Samar or any of those small airstrips where a small plane can land without people from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the BI monitoring.)

“If we continue to neglect this problem, not to give attention to this problem, there will be a lot of fugitives that can evade arrest and just flee our country. That’s why something must be done,” Estrada said and asked the BI how to address these loopholes.

Poe acknowledged the problem and further noted that there are also private airports where authorities cannot monitor the flights.

“Ngayon ang ginawa natin sa lahat ng mga chartered flights, bago sila makaalis, ‘yung Immigration officer, pupuntahan sila doon sa hangar, may mobile device to check their identity, et cetera, bago payagan ng air traffic control na makaalis sila,” Poe said.

(For all chartered flights, the Immigration officers must go to the hangar to check the identity of the everyone aboard before they give clearance for the flight to depart.)

“We’re banking on the honesty of our officials to be able to comply with these processes,” she added.

Poe said they will ask the Department of Transportation about its processes in monitoring all air activity within the country.

In October, the BI also said that Guo’s flight to Malaysia might have taken off from a private airstrip.

Guo is facing a qualified human trafficking case before a Pasig court and a graft case before a Valenzuela court due to her alleged involvement in the POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac where she formerly served as mayor.

The dismissed mayor is also facing a tax evasion complaint, 87 counts for money laundering, and a perjury and falsification complaint before the Justice Department.

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BI：仍未找到载 Alice Guo 飞往马来西亚的飞机信息

被解职的塔拉克省（Tarlac）班班（Bamban）市长艾丽斯·郭（Alice Guo）逃离菲律宾四个月后，移民局（BI）仍然没有有关将她送至马来西亚的飞机的信息。

这一消息是移民局在周三参议院全体会议继续审议 2025 年国家预算提案时通过参议员 Grace Poe 透露的，当时参议院临时议长 Jinggoy Estrada 要求移民局提供有关郭 7 月份逃亡情况的最新情况。

为移民局预算提案辩护的Poe表示：“已经确认她进入了马来西亚吉隆坡国际机场，但对于具体航班，他们仍在通过官方渠道核实飞机，并试图与吉隆坡方面合作以获取这些信息。”

这与郭华萍和其所谓妹妹 Shiela Guo 的证词相矛盾，她们声称她们于 7 月第一周乘坐几艘船离开了该国。

Estrada重申了他的观点：郭可能利用一个小型机场乘坐包机逃离菲律宾。
（艾丽丝·郭可能是乘坐私人飞机逃跑的，途经萨马岛这样的小型机场，或任何一个小型飞机跑道，在这些地方，小型飞机可以降落，而不需要菲律宾民航局和移民局的人员监视。）

PNP probe showed no cops, politicians involved in Alice Guo’s escape

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday said the results of their investigations showed that there were no police officers and politicians that were involved in the escape of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo in July.

This was relayed by the PNP through Senate Majority Leader Floor Leader Francis Tolentino who defended the police force’s budget during the continuation of the Senate plenary deliberations on the spending plan for 2025.

It was Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros who inquired about the updates on PNP’s internal investigation into the supposed help of some police officers in Guo’s escape.

“Nagkaroon po ng imbestigasyon at ang resulta ay wala talagang natukoy na involved na miyembro ng Philippine National Police,” said Tolentino, who was speaking on behalf of the PNP.

There’s an investigation that was conducted and its result showed that there is no police officer that was involved in her escape.)

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada chimed in and asked if the investigations showed any involvement of politicians in Guo’s escape.

Tolentino, in response, said, “Base rin po sa imbestigasyon kay Alice Guo sa custodial investigation, wala rin pong natukoy na involved na pulitiko, your honor.”

(Based on the custodial investigation on Alice Guo, there was no politician that was involved.)

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Senior Vice President Raul Villanueva previously said there was raw information that a former PNP Chief might have helped Guo. He later on apologized for the unverified information.

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菲律宾国家警察局的调查显示，艾丽丝·郭的逃亡事件中没有警察和政客参与

菲律宾娱乐博彩公司（PAGCOR）高级副总裁劳尔·维拉纽瓦（Raul Villanueva）此前曾表示，有证据表明菲律宾国家警察局前局长可能帮助了郭华萍。他后来为未经证实的信息道歉。

DOJ ends preliminary probe of money laundering complaint vs Guo, sister, Cassandra Ong
Published Nov 08, 2024 03:25 PM PHT

MANILA — The panel of prosecutors of the Department of Justice has concluded its preliminary investigation on the money laundering complaint against former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo, her supposed sister Shiela Guo, Cassandra Li Ong and 32 others.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council, National Bureau of Investigation and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission filed the complaint based on findings that the respondents who are connected withPhilippine Offshore Gaming Operators(POGO)participated in the transfer of funds from alleged fraudulent sources.

Former mayor Guo is facing a total of 87 counts of money laundering involving an estimated P7 billion fraudulent fund transfers.

Assistant State Prosecutor Charlie Guhit said the panel of prosecutors deemed the money laundering complaint submitted for resolution after the Guos, Ong and other complainants filed their counter-affidavits.

Guhit said the panel was expected to issue a resolution on whether to dismiss the complaint or file a case in court.

“Timeline, wala naman but we’ll see to it that we will resolve this case as soon as possible because we’ve been delayed for a few weeks because of the declaration of summit kaya wala tayong pasok noon and the typhoons,” Guhit said.

Guhit noted that even if some of the accused like former Technology and Resource Center director Dennis Cunanan had not filed counter-affidavits, the complaint was deemed submitted for resolution for all 35 respondents.

“So the consequence of which, the case will be submitted for resolution without their counter-affidavits, we will resolve the case against them based on the complaint and the supporting evidence in support of the complaint,” Guhit said.

Ong’s lawyer Raphael Andrada said they argued for the dismissal of the money laundering complaint.

“It’s mostly denial of the allegations against our client and pointing out flaws in the original complaint,” Andrada said.

Former mayor Guo’s lawyer Atty. Stephen David likewise said they hoped that the DOJ panel would dismiss the complaint.

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马尼拉——司法部检察官小组已经完成了对前塔拉克省班班市长 Alice Guo、她的妹妹 Shiela Guo、Cassandra Li Ong 和其他 32 人的洗钱指控的初步调查。

反洗钱委员会、国家调查局和总统反有组织犯罪委员会根据调查结果提出了申诉，即与菲律宾离岸博彩运营商（POGO）有关的被告参与了从涉嫌欺诈来源转移资金。

前市长郭华萍面临总计 87 项洗钱指控，涉及约 70 亿比索的欺诈性资金转移。

助理国家检察官查理·古希特 (Charlie Guhit) 表示，预计专家组将做出决议，决定是否驳回投诉或向法庭提起诉讼。

古希特说：“没有时间表，但我们会确保尽快解决这个问题，因为由于中午宣布举行峰会和台风，我们的谈判已经被推迟了几个星期。”

Alice Guo pleads ‘not guilty’ to graft before Valenzuela court
Published November 8, 2024 11:10am

Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo on Friday pleaded not guilty to graft charges before a Valenzuela Regional Trial Court (RTC).

According to the Valenzuela Regional Branch 285 clerk of court Atty. Pascual Lacas Jr., Guo pleaded not guilty to the violation of Republic Act 3019 through a videoconference.

“Alice Guo pleaded not guilty to both cases filed against her… those cases are in connection with Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,” he said in an interview.

“She was asked if she understands English well. She was also asked if it would be read in Tagalog but she prefers it to be read in English so it was read in English. So she pleaded in both cases as not guilty,” he later added.

The next hearing will be held on November 22 for presentation of evidence.

Guo’s presence will no longer be required in the next hearing after she waived her right to be present in the presentation, according to the RTC.

In September, Guo posted bail in the amount of P540,000 before the court.

Despite this, she remains detained at the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory.

Guo, believed to be Chinese national Guo Hua Ping, is also facing a qualified human trafficking case before a Pasig court.

A quo warranto petition was also filed against Guo with a Manila court as well as a petition to cancel her birth certificate before a Tarlac court.

She is also facing a tax evasion complaint as well as 87 counts for money laundering before the Justice Department.

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被解职的塔拉克省班班 (Bamban)市长艾丽斯郭 (Alice Guo) 周五在瓦伦瑞拉地区审判法院 (RTC) 上对贪污指控表示不认罪。

据瓦伦瑞拉地区分院285法庭书记员帕斯夸尔·拉卡斯（Pascual Lacas Jr.）称，郭通过视频会议对违反第3019号共和国法案的指控表示不认罪。

他在接受采访时表示：“郭艾丽斯对针对她的两起案件均表示不认罪……这些案件与《反腐败法》有关。”

下一次听证会将于11月22日举行，以提交证据。

1,627 ‘spurious’ birth certificates of foreigners blocked after exposé on Alice Guo
Nov 8, 2024 7:00 AM PHT

Senator Grace Poe says that of this number, 18 — including the birth certificate of dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo — have been endorsed to the Office of the Solicitor General for cancellation

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has blocked the “spurious” birth certificates of 1,627 foreigners, including dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo.

Senate finance committee chairperson Grace Poe shared this information during the Senate plenary session on the proposed 2025 budget on Thursday, November 7, during the interpellation of Senator Risa Hontiveros.

When asked for an update on the internal audit or investigation of the PSA following the discovery of Guo’s fake Filipino citizenship, Poe said: “Update on the birth certificates, Mr. President. 1,627 birth certificates of foreign nationals were blocked by the PSA after its investigation, finding the documents to be spurious. The names of foreign nationals were shared to the BI (Bureau of Immigration), DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs), and NBI (National Bureau of Investigation).”

Poe added that of this number, only 18 birth certificates, so far — including that of Guo — have been endorsed to the Office of the Solicitor General for cancellation.

Asked how those involved in the proliferation of spurious birth certificates are being dealt with, Poe said that the names of government workers allegedly involved have been submitted to the mayor of the concerned town, and that the NBI is conducting its own investigation.

Poe did not mention the town but in July, the NBI in Davao Region revealed the discovery of 1,200 fake birth certificates in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur, for 2018 to 2019, and that it was investigating the alleged syndicate behind it.

Poe also said on Thursday, in response to Hontiveros’ questions, that she will ask the Department of Justice to submit to her committee photos of those whose birth certificates had been blocked. She said there is a scheduled hearing of the DOJ at the Senate.

“Gusto kong malaman kung, ‘di ba, kung talagang gumamit sila ng sound judgment, ‘di ba, sa pag-determina. Kasi iba-iba naman yung mga itsura din ng Pilipino, ‘di ba? Hindi naman natin masasabi, but together with the physical appearance is also their knowledge of the culture, or also how they speak. I mean, it’s all, it’s not just one category. Lahat ‘yan may mga titingnan,” she said.

(I want to know if they really used sound judgment in determining. Because Filipinos don’t all look the same, right? We can’t say, but together with the physical appearance is also their knowledge of the culture, or also how they speak. I mean, it’s not just one category. All those will be checked.)

Based on PSA records, 5 million Filipinos nationwide remained unregistered in 2019. Of this number, 40% were children aged 0-14 years old.

The Hontiveros-led Senate investigation on illegal Philippine offshore gambling operators exposed the link of Guo to a POGO in her hometown, and led to questions about irregularities in her Filipino citizenship. In June, the NBI confirmed that the fingerprints of Guo and Chinese national Guo Hua Ping are “one and the same.” The OSG moved to cancel her birth certificate in July.

Guo ad planned to run for reelection in the 2025 elections but later dropped the plan, saying she would have to first deal with the allegations against her. The Department of Foreign Affairs canceled Guo’s Philippine passport after receiving a certification from the NBI indicating that Guo’s biometrics matched those of Guo Hua Ping.

The Ombudsman had earlier dismissed Guo from service, while the Commission on Elections is suing her for misrepresentation.

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郭华萍事件曝光后，1627 份外国人“伪造”出生证明被查封
参议员 Grace Poe 表示，其中 18 份（包括被解职的 Bamban 市长 Alice Guo 的出生证明）已提交给总检察长办公室吊销

菲律宾马尼拉——菲律宾统计局（PSA）封锁了 1,627 名外国人的“伪造”出生证明，其中包括被解职的班班和塔拉克市市长艾丽斯·郭。

参议院财政委员会主席格蕾丝·波伊 (Grace Poe) 于 11 月 7 日星期四在参议院关于 2025 年预算提案的全体会议上，在参议员里萨·洪蒂维罗斯 (Risa Hontiveros) 的质询期间分享了这一信息。

当被问及在发现郭华萍伪造菲律宾公民身份后，菲律宾国家统计局内部审计或调查的最新进展时，波伊说，菲律宾国家统计局在调查后发现这些文件是伪造的，封锁了 1,627 份外国人的出生证明。这些外国人的姓名已提供给移民局 (BI)、外交部 (DFA) 和国家调查局 (NBI)。

波伊补充说，到目前为止，只有 18 份出生证明（包括郭的出生证明）已被签发至司法部长办公室予以取消。

当被问及那些参与伪造出生证明扩散的人将受到如何处理时，波伊表示，涉嫌参与的政府工作人员名单已经提交给相关城镇的市长，而国家调查局正在进行自己的调查。

(The Philippine News Agency)
Comelec files poll offense case vs. Guo before Tarlac court
October 29, 2024, 5:37 pm

MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday formally charged dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo before the Capas, Tarlac Regional Trial Court (RTC) for allegedly committing material misrepresentation when she filed her Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for the May 2022 polls.

In a criminal information filed by its law department, the poll body accused Guo of violating Section 74 of the Omnibus Election Code.

“The accused Alice Leal Guo/Hua Ping Lin Guo, did then and there, willfully and unlawfully, commit material misrepresentation by filing her Certificate of Candidacy for the position of Mayor of the Municipality of Bamban, Province of Tarlac, and declaring under oath that she is eligible for the position she seeks to be elected, when in truth and in fact, she is a Chinese citizen and a resident of Fujian, China,” it said.

The filling of an election offense case stemmed from the recommendation of the poll body’s law department, noting that the former mayor committed material misrepresentation in her COC that she erred in declaring herself as being a Filipino citizen despite being of Chinese descent.

“It is clear from the evidence presented by Complainant that there is sufficient ground to believe that Respondent committed material misrepresentation in violation of Section 74 of the OEC in relation with Section 262 of the same Code, when she declared in her COC that she is a Filipino citizen and is a resident of Bamban, Tarlac, when in truth and in fact, she is not,” the poll body said.

The recommendation also pointed out how a comparison between Guo’s declaration in her COC and the National Bureau of Investigation’s Alien Fingerprint Card under the name of Hua Ping Lin Guo would prove that she deliberately made false representations pertaining to her qualifications for elective office, specifically her lack of citizenship and her failure to meet the residency requirement.

In her COC, the then mayoral candidate declared her name as Alice Leal Guo; citizenship as Filipino; birthplace in Tarlac, Tarlac; birthday on July 12, 1986; and has been residing in the Philippines for 35 years and two months and of Bamban, Tarlac for 18 years and two months on day before the Election Day.

On the other hand, the NBI Alien Fingerprint Card showed her name as Hua Ping Lin Guo; citizenship as Chinese; birthplace in Fuiian, China; birthday on Aug. 31, 1990; and is a resident of Fujian, China as of March 2006.

An election offense case carries the penalty of one to six years imprisonment, disqualification to hold public office, and removal of the right to vote. (PNA)

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选举委员会向塔拉克法院提起针对郭华萍的选举违规诉讼

马尼拉——选举委员会（Comelec）周二在塔拉克省卡帕斯地区审判法院（RTC）正式指控被解职的班班市市长艾丽斯·郭（Alice Guo），指控她在提交 2022 年 5 月选举的候选人证书（COC）时犯有重大虚假陈述。

该民意调查机构在其法律部门提交的刑事信息中指控郭华萍违反了《综合选举法》第 74 条。

法院称：“被告郭华萍/郭华萍在提交塔拉克省班班市市长候选人证书时，故意、非法地犯下重大虚假陈述，并宣誓称她有资格竞选该职位，而事实上，她是中国公民，居住在中国福建省。”

民意调查机构表示：“从投诉人提供的证据可以清楚地看出，有充分理由相信，被投诉人在其公民证明中声称自己是菲律宾公民并居住在塔拉克省班班，但事实上她并不是，这违反了《菲律宾选举法》第 74 条与第 262 条，构成了重大虚假陈述。”

该建议还指出，将郭在公民身份证明中的声明与国家调查局郭华萍名下的外国人指纹卡进行比较，可以证明她故意对她的当选资格作出虚假陈述，特别是她缺乏公民身份和未能满足居住要求。

这位当时的市长候选人在她的竞选宣言中声明，她的名字是 Alice Leal Guo；国籍是菲律宾人；出生地是塔拉克省；生日是 1986 年 7 月 12 日；截至选举日前一天，她已在菲律宾居住了 35 年零两个月，并在塔拉克省班班居住了 18 年零两个月。

另一方面，国调局外国人指纹卡显示，她的名字为郭华萍，国籍为中国，出生地为中国福建，生日为 1990 年 8 月 31 日，自 2006 年 3 月起居住于中国福建省。

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Comelec files material misrepresentation raps vs Alice Guo

The Commision on Elections (Comelec) formally filed charges against dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo for allegedly committing material misrepresentation in her candidacy in the 2022 elections.

In an information filed October 26, the Comelec accused Guo of violating Section 74 of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC) when she filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) for mayor in the 2022 polls despite being a Chinese citizen.

“That on or about October 1, 2021, and during the period for the filing of Certificates of Candidacy in connection with the May 9, 2022 National and Local Elections in the Municipality of Bamban, Province of Tarlac, and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the accused Alice Leal Guo/Hua Ping Lin Guo, did then and there, willfully and unlawfully, commit material misrepresentation by filing her COC for the position of Mayor of the Municipality of Bamban, Province of Tarlac, and declaring under oath that she is eligible for the position she seeks to be elected, when in truth and in fact, she is a Chinese citizen and a resident of Fujian, China,” the poll body said.

The charges were filed before the Tarlac Regional Trial Court (RTC).

Last week, Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said the poll body will formally file charges against Guo after her camp failed to submit a motion for reconsideration against an earlier resolution, wherein the Comelec en banc adopted the recommendation of its law department to file information against the dismissed mayor before an RTC for violating Section 74 of the OEC in relation to Section 262.

Garcia also said the poll body will file a motion with the Tarlac RTC to transfer the venue of Guo’s trial.

“Hindi po ito dahil wala tayong tiwala sa ating korte. Sobra po ang pagtitiwala ng Comelec sa ating hudikatura, sa mga huwes. Subalit siyempre po, tatandaan natin na nandoon tayo sa isang lugar na ‘yun mismong safety at security ng witnesses at mga lawyers natin ay atin din pong pinoprotektahan,” he said earlier.

(This isn’t because we don’t trust our courts. The Comelec fully trusts in our judiciary, in our judges. However, of course, we should remember that we are in a place where the safety and security of our witnesses and lawyers are also our responsibility to protect.)

Guo is facing charges for graft, qualified human trafficking, money laundering, and tax evasion for her alleged involvement in the Philippines Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in her town.

Guo was dismissed from her post as Bamban mayor in August.

The Department of Foreign Affairs canceled Guo’s Philippine passport after it was discovered that her biometrics match those of Chinese passport holder Guo Hua Ping in the files of the National Bureau of Investigation.

Guo expressed her intention to run for the 2025 midterm elections but later announced her withdrawal from the mayoral race in Bamban.