7 co-defendants of Alice Guo in non-bailable human trafficking case surrender to NBI

Seven co-defendants of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice L. Guo in the non-bailable case of aggravated human trafficking filed in the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) have surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago presented them to the media during a press conference on Monday, September 23.

Director Santiago identified them as Jamielyn Santos Cruz, President of Zun Yuan Technology, Inc., Juan Miguel Alpas, Treasurer of Zun Yuan, Roderick Paul Bernardo Puajante, Secretary of Zun Yuan, Thelma Barrogo Requiro, President and CEO of Hongshen Gaming, Inc. , Rita Sapnu Uyturralde, Rowena Evangelista and Rachelle Joan Malonzo Carreon.

The co-defendants who are still at large are Huang Zhiyang, Zhang Ruijin, Baoying Lin, Yu Zheng Can, Dennis Lacson Cunanan, Merlie Joy Manalo Castro and Maybelline Requiro Millo, Santiago said.

“Most of them in general are Chinese, but we keep chasing them,” he assured.

“As for our investigation, sila (yong mga sumuko) ang mga opisyal nitong mga companies na ito na aming inimbestigahan (they, the ones who surrendered, are the officials of the companies we investigated),” Santiago said.

Zun Yuan, formerly Hongshen, is a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) based in the city of Bamban. Authorities have raided it for alleged criminal activities, including human trafficking.

The raid and arrest of several people, including foreigners, led to the filing of criminal cases against Guo and her co-defendant.

The seven surrendered to the NBI after Judge Annielyn B. Medes-Cabelis of Branch 167 of the Pasig City RTC issued an arrest warrant against them on September 19 last year.

Guo, who is already being held on a contempt of court warrant by the House of Representatives, has been ordered to be transferred from the Philippine National Police (PNP) to the Pasig City jail.

“We will return the warrant today as far as they are concerned and we will get the order of detention kung saan sila ikukulong (where they will be held),” Santiago said, recalling that the case cannot be handled on bail.

He noted that everyone who surrendered had “nagamit lang sila (they were used)”.

“’Yung accusations after ‘yun, justifications nila sa sarili nila lalabas ‘yan during the trial (their justifications will be presented during the trial),” he said.

Regarding the safety concerns of those who surrendered, Santiago assured “makikipag-coordinate kami sa korte para mabigyan sila ng proteksyon (we will cooperate with the court to provide them with protection).”

Santiago said that PUajante and Alpas surrendered on Sunday, September 22, before the Organized and Transnational Crime Division (AOTCD) of the NBI, while the rest surrendered last Sunday and Friday, September 20, before the NBI Central Luzon.