Bamban mayor denies ties to raided Pogo firm at Senate hearing

Bamban Mayor Alice Guo told a Senate panel on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, that she has no connection to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator Zuan Yuan Technology Inc., which was raided in early March on charges of alleged human trafficking and serious illegal detention¹. Speaking at a Senate hearing on controversies surrounding Pogo firms, Guo said she is neither connected to nor a protector of the company¹.

Guo's statement came after Senator Win Gatchalian said authorities found a billing statement from Tarlac II Electric Cooperative (Tarel Co) Inc. showing that Zun Yuan's electric meter was registered under her name, and that a vehicle seized during the raid was registered under her name¹. Gatchalian said he believed there were "damning pieces of evidence that Guo might be involved in the operation of [the] Pogo facility implicated in various criminal activities"¹.

Guo read a statement contradicting the allegations.

• She said the Tarel Co meter was in her name because she was the former landowner of the property, and that the document only shows she applied for a temporary connection in 2019 for the entire compound's electricity¹.
• She said she used to be an incorporator of Baofu, the compound where Zun Yuan is located, and that she used to own the vehicle found within the compound but sold it in 2020¹.
• She also denied owning any villa in the compound¹.

In March, Zun Yuan's 10-hectare compound was raided, leading to the rescue of 499 foreign workers, based on two court-issued search warrants for alleged human trafficking and serious illegal detention of Pogo workers¹. In April, the Palace directed the Anti-Money Laundering Council to freeze and preserve the entire compound of Zun Yuan, including its other assets¹.

What it means for players

The raid and the asset freeze concern an operator that Philippine authorities have linked to alleged human trafficking and serious illegal detention¹. For anyone gambling in the Philippines, the case is a reminder that Pogo operations are subject to criminal investigation and that a firm's assets can be frozen by order of the national government¹. The Senate hearing did not produce any finding against Guo; she denied the allegations and no ruling has been reported¹. Players considering any Philippine-facing operator can check the Philippines gambling guide for how the market is regulated, and the scams and safety guide for how to report suspicious sites or operations.

What happens next

The Senate panel on women continued its hearing into controversies surrounding Pogo firms on May 7¹. No further scheduled steps, rulings or charges were reported in the source¹.