SENATOR Hontiveros on Thursday described the conviction of Alice Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping, as a significant victory in the government’s efforts against corruption, human trafficking, cybercrime, and other transnational offenses.
Hontiveros, who led the Senate investigation into the activities linked to Guo and Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), said the ruling affirms months of work by victims, whistleblowers, law enforcement agencies, and prosecutors.
“Today, justice has been served… Ngayon, hindi na sila makakaulit,” the senator said in a statement.
According to Hontiveros, the Senate probe she led produced several key outcomes, including evidence that contributed to the guilty verdict, support for the passage of the Anti-POGO Law of 2025, and inputs that helped lead to a presidential executive order banning POGOs.
She also thanked the witnesses who testified before the Senate, the Department of Justice prosecutors who pursued the case, and law enforcement personnel who conducted raids and rescues as part of the investigation.
Hontiveros said the committee will continue to seek accountability from government agencies that “failed in their duties” and will further probe the alleged extent of Chinese intelligence operations in the country.
“To all others who enabled Alice Guo’s criminal empire: the Philippines is not a playground for exploitation, infiltration, and espionage. Accountability is coming,” she said.
The Pasig court earlier handed down a guilty verdict against Guo for qualified trafficking, sentencing her to reclusion perpetua.
