MANILA — The camp of ousted Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo will appeal the ruling of a local court convicting her of qualified human trafficking, a non-bailable offense that carries a heavy penalty under Philippine law.
Alice Guo found guilty of qualified human trafficking over Tarlac POGO
“We are just protecting her rights as an accused and at the same time siyempre, kung ano ‘yong nararapat, kung ano ‘yong rights niya, and at the same time, kung ano rin ‘yong mga necessary steps na gawin within the bounds of law. So, definitely, we will appeal naman the decision,” Nicole Jamilla, Guo’s legal counsel, said in a chance interview at the Pasig Hall of Justice.
(We are just protecting her rights as an accused and, of course, whatever is proper, whatever her rights are, and whatever necessary steps must be taken within the bounds of law. So definitely, we will appeal the decision.)
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The ruling stemmed from charges linking Guo to alleged large-scale human trafficking operations connected to a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation hub in her town.
The court sentenced Guo and her seven co-accused to life imprisonment and fined them P2 million, in addition to monetary reparations for victims.
“Siyempre malungkot (of course she’s sad) but she’s strong,” she added. “She will fight.”
JAIL TRANSFER
Meanwhile, Jamilla said the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 167 is expected to release a resolution this week on the motion seeking to allow Guo to remain at the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory instead of being transferred to the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City.
Alice Guo wants to stay in Pasig City jail dorm after human trafficking conviction
Jamilla said the matter has been submitted for resolution — meaning the court will now decide based on the pleadings presented.
“‘Yon naman, submitted siya and at the same time, the court nga will issue the necessary resolution or order for that matter this week,” she told reporters.
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The court earlier ordered Guo’s transfer to the CIW following her conviction.
However, before the transfer could be carried out, Guo’s camp filed a motion asking that she be allowed to remain temporarily at the Pasig City Jail, citing concerns over her safety and security should she be moved to the national women’s correctional facility.
“[Priority namin] ‘yong safety niya and at the same time, her preparedness, siya mismo. Siya muna ‘yong priority namin ngayon. So, we’ll just focus on her muna and her case,” Jamilla said.
(Our priority is her safety and, at the same time, her preparedness—her, specifically. She’s our priority right now. So we’ll just focus on her and her case first.)
The court allowed Guo to stay in her current detention facility pending the resolution of the motion.
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Guo, 35, was arrested by Indonesian police in September 2024 after fleeing the Philippines.
How Indonesian authorities busted Alice Guo’s sister, alleged cohort
In June of this year, the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 34 ruled that Chinese citizen Guo Hua Ping and Alice Leal Guo were the same person.
It held that as a Chinese citizen, Guo was never eligible to be the mayor of Bamban. Her appointment and entire mayoral term were likewise declared void.
MANILA — The camp of ousted Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo will appeal the ruling of a local court convicting her of qualified human trafficking, a non-bailable offense that carries a heavy penalty under Philippine law.