Associates of Former Philippines Mayor Apprehended in Indonesia Over POGO-Related Crimes

Arrests and Extradition to the Philippines

Shiela Guo, the sister of Alice Guo, and Cassandra Li Ong, an alleged associate, were apprehended by Indonesian police last week.

They were extradited to the Philippines and are currently being held in separate detention centers.

Shiela Guo is detained at a senate facility, while Ong is under custody at the house of representatives detention center.

The women were captured in Indonesia after entering the country via Singapore on a cruise ship, with assistance from a Singaporean national.

The arrests stem from their alleged involvement in illegal activities at POGO facilities in Bamban and Porac, Pampanga, in the Philippines.

The Philippine National Bureau of Investigation has taken charge of the case following the extradition of the suspects on 23 August.

Criminal Allegations and POGO Ban

The crackdown on the POGO facilities began earlier this year, with a raid in May at the Bamban site.

Authorities suspected the operation was involved in online scams related to love and cryptocurrency fraud.

Over 800 workers, both Filipino and foreign, were rescued from the compound, many of whom later reported being victims of human trafficking and abuse.

Further investigations revealed that Alice Guo, then serving as the mayor of Bamban, was allegedly a Chinese national operating under the name Guo Hua Ping.

She was implicated as part owner of the POGO and accused of funding it with money sourced from China.

Following her refusal to testify in senate hearings and the subsequent freezing of her assets, Guo went into hiding, and her whereabouts remain unknown.

Meanwhile, the Porac POGO was raided in June, uncovering illicit activities such as human trafficking, torture, and prostitution. This led to the rescue of 186 individuals.

These revelations fueled calls for a complete ban on POGOs in the Philippines.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr responded by advocating for the immediate shutdown of these offshore operations in his 22 July state-of-the-nation address.

Ongoing Investigation into Illegal POGOs

As the investigation into illegal POGOs continues, Shiela Guo remains under strict surveillance, according to senate sergeant-at-arms Roberto Ancan.

She has no access to personal communication devices and can only use senate-controlled phones for contacting her legal counsel. Ong, described as a “vital resource person” by Representative Robert Ace Barbers, will be questioned about her knowledge of criminal activities at the Porac POGO, including allegations of scams, torture, and other illegal operations.

Authorities are continuing their search for Alice Guo, who was last traced to Indonesia. Her alleged involvement in the POGO operations has made her a central figure in the ongoing investigation into the crimes committed at the gaming hubs.