MANILA — Senators Risa Hontiveros and Bam Aquino lauded the conviction of former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo, calling the ruling a landmark moment in the country’s fight against corruption, human trafficking, and transnational crime.

Hontiveros, who led the Senate inquiry that exposed the operations of Chinese-run offshore gaming hubs, said the Pasig court’s decision represents a major breakthrough in holding POGO-linked operators accountable.

“Today, justice has been served. The conviction of Alice Guo aka Guo Hua Ping is a victory against corruption, human trafficking, cybercrime, and many other transnational crimes,” she said. “Ngayon, hindi na sila makakaulit.”

Hontiveros said the Senate investigation she led helped secure a presidential executive order banning POGOs, provided evidence that contributed to Guo’s guilty verdict, and paved the way for the passage of the Anti-POGO Law of 2025.

“I am proud to consider it one of the most consequential Senate inquiries of my life’s work so far,” she added, thanking victims, whistleblowers, law enforcement agencies, and DOJ prosecutors who pursued the case.

As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, Hontiveros vowed continued oversight.

“We will continue to demand accountability from every government agency that failed in their duties, and we will continue to investigate the full extent of Chinese intelligence operations in our country,” she said. “And to all others who enabled Alice Guo’s criminal empire: the Philippines is not a playground for exploitation, infiltration, and espionage.”

Aquino, in a separate statement, said the swift resolution of Guo’s case should set the standard for other corruption investigations, especially those involving flood control projects.

“Maganda na mabilis iyong hustisya… Sana lang, kung gaano kabilis ito, ganun din kabilis ma-resolve iyong mga issues natin pagdating sa flood control,” he said.

He stressed that accountability must extend to all public officials implicated in anomalies surrounding government infrastructure funds.

“Ngayon na nakatutok tayo sa flood control at sa mga anomalya sa gobyerno, dapat ganun din kabilis iyong paghuli sa mga sangkot dito sa corruption sa ating bansa,” Aquino added.

Both senators emphasized that Guo’s life imprisonment signals the government’s growing determination to dismantle criminal networks operating under the cover of POGO hubs and recover stolen public funds.