Manila: Senators Risa Hontiveros and Sherwin Gatchalian have hailed the conviction of Alice Guo as a landmark victory in the Philippines’ ongoing battle against human trafficking, cybercrime, and criminal syndicates associated with Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).

According to Philippines News Agency, the guilty verdict against Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping, is the result of extensive investigative work that revealed corruption and transnational crime links tied to POGOs. Hontiveros emphasized that the conviction represents a significant triumph over corruption and various transnational crimes, asserting that justice has been served. She highlighted the role of a Senate inquiry led by her committee, which supported evidence leading to Guo’s life imprisonment and contributed to the passage of the Anti-POGO Law of 2025.

Senator Gatchalian echoed these sentiments, noting that the verdict strengthens national efforts to dismantle illegal POGO hubs and related trafficking networks. He described the conviction as a significant win for both the Filipino people and foreign nationals who have been victimized by criminal activities linked to POGOs. Gatchalian hopes that this ruling will serve as a deterrent to those seeking to exploit government systems and reinforce laws against POGOs.

In a detailed 111-page decision, the Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 167 found Guo and her co-accused guilty of qualified human trafficking, sentencing them to life imprisonment. Additional individuals were also sentenced, and each must pay a fine of PHP2 million alongside monetary reparations to the victims. The court ordered the forfeiture of the Baofu compound to the government, citing its use in labor trafficking activities. Guo, currently detained at the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory, will be transferred to the Correctional Institution for Women, while her co-accused will be detained at the National Bilibid Prison.