The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday announced the arrest of 7 co-conspirators of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.
“NBI filed qualified trafficking [charges] against Alice Guo and her cohorts… The Pasig RTC (regional trial court) issued five warrants of arrest for qualified trafficking,” said NBI Director Jaime Santiago.
He said the five suspects “voluntarily surrendered” to the NBI regional director for Central Luzon Ricardo Apolinar and the Task Force Bamban.
Santiago said the arrest is a product of joint efforts from different divisions including Organized and Transnational Crime Division (OTCD), Intellectual Property Rights Division (IPRD), Counter Terrorism Division (CTD), Tarlac District Office (TARDO), and Central Luzon Regional Office (CELRO).
Roderick Paul Bernardo Puajante and Juan Miguel Alpas were arrested by the join operatives of NBI-OTCD, NBI-IPRD, and NBI-CTD.
Meanwhile, Rachelle Joan Malonzo Carreon, Jamielyn Santos Cruz, Rita Sapnu Uyturralde, Rowena Gonzales Evangelista, and Thelma Barrogo Requiro were arrested by operatives of NBI-OTCD, NBI-TARDO, and NBI-CELRO.
He said Jamielyn Santos Cruz is the president of a corporation owned by Alice Guo while the treasurer is Juan Miguel Alpas and Roderick Paul Bernardo Puajante is the Secretary.
Hongsheng [Gaming Technology, Inc.] incorporators include Rita Sapnu Uyturralde as treasurer and Thelma Barrogo Requiro is the registered CEO, while there is no position indicated for Rowena Gonzales Evanghelista, added Bautista.
The warrants of arrest of the accused issued by the Pasig court will be returned and they will wait for the commitment order where they will be detained, according to him.
“It appears that they are the persons responsible for the corporations that we can say are all bogus corporations of Alice Guo… We will let the court decide whether to appreciate their testimonies,” stressed Santiago.
Both Hongsheng Gaming Technology and Zun Yuan Technology are Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) that have links to human trafficking and money laundering activities.
