The Senate has issued an arrest order against suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, who was cited in contempt after she failed to appear at hearings in connection with the ongoing probe on illegal Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGOs).
The mayor failed to attend the June 26 and July 10 hearings of the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality chaired by Sen. Risa Hontiveros.
Guo’s legal counsel Stephen David said she will surrender when her mental state is stable, adding that the client is already consulting with a doctor.
This came a few days after the Court of Appeals issued a freeze order on the assets of Guo and other key individuals linked to illegal POGOs. The freeze order freezes various bank accounts, real properties, and personal assets connected to the suspected members of the syndicate.
Key individuals identified include Guo, Zhiyang Huang, and Baoying Lin, who are suspected of orchestrating human trafficking and fraudulent activities through entities such as Zun Yuan Technology Inc., BAOFU Land Development Inc., and Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc.
The freeze order was approved on Monday based on Section 10 of Republic Act No. 9160 or the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001 and Rule 10 of its 2018 Implementing Rules and Regulations.
