Landmark ruling: Alice Guo’s conviction first under ‘organizing trafficking’
MANILA, Philippines — The conviction of former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo is the first under the “organizing trafficking” section of the law.
In an interview with reporters in Makati on Thursday, November 20, Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Ty said that Guo’s conviction under the mentioned section would be beneficial for other similar cases where the accused were not directly involved in the trafficking but were instrumental in forming the organization committing the trafficking.
“Malaking bagay 'yan na nagamit natin ang section na iyan dahil sa mga ibang mga kaso natin,” he said.
(That is a significant matter that we were able to use that section for our other cases.)
“Pero kasama talaga sila sa pagpundar ng organization na kung saan may nangyari na human trafficking ay naconvict sila,” he said.
(But they were truly involved in funding the organization where the human trafficking happened, and they were convicted.)
Ty referred to Section 4 (L) of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, which penalizes the act “to organize, provide financial support, or direct other persons to commit the offenses defined as acts of trafficking.”
On November 20, the Pasig Regional Trial Court, Branch 167, convicted former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo and seven others of qualified trafficking in persons for their involvement in illicit activities linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators in Bamban, Tarlac.
The court sentenced Guo and other co-accused to life imprisonment and a fine of P2 million.
Ty described the conviction as a win against human trafficking, saying that the country’s justice system is working.
In a separate statement, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said the conviction is “an important milestone in the government's ongoing effort to dismantle criminal syndicates and protect victims of exploitation.”
“Justice has been served today, not only for the victims, but for the nation. Human trafficking reduces people to commodities,” the NBI said.
“The court's ruling makes clear that anyone who engages in, supports, or protects such exploitation will face the full force of the law,” it added.
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