Guo gets life for qualified trafficking

Former Bamban mayor Alice Guo and seven others were convicted of quali- fied trafficking in persons by a Pasig trial court yesterday and sentenced to life in prison.

- By MARK ERNEST VILLEZA

The Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 167 found Guo, Jaimielyn Santos Cruz, Rachelle Malonzo Carreon and Walter Wong Rong guilty of organizing human trafficking at the Baofu compound, while Chinese nationals Wang Weili, Wuli Dong, Nong Ding Chang and Lang Xu Po were convicted for acts of trafficking.

Each was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined P2 million per case. The entire P6-billion Baofu compound in Bamban, Tarlac was also ordered forfeited in favor of the government.

Guo, who attended the hearing through videoconference, will be transferred immediately from the Pasig City Jail to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City.

Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission executive director Benjamin Acorda Jr. said the ruling demonstrated the impact of cooperation among agencies and whistleblowers. He said the conviction was “a victory for the government,” noting that the case started from an employee complaint.

“It’s a show of how unity works — that no matter how powerful or influential the opponent of the agency is, as long as everyone works together, including the community, because this started from a complaint of an employee, it really shows how big the impact is when everyone helps each other toward one goal,” Acorda said.

Acorda said he hoped the decision would discourage illegal operators.