Manila—The Supreme Court of the Philippines has authorized the transfer of significant human trafficking charges from Capas, Tarlac, to the National Capital Region, impacting the case against dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo and her associates.
According to the Philippines News Agency, the Department of Justice (DOJ) had petitioned the court for the relocation, citing the need to maintain fairness and national security. In a letter dated April 22, DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla appealed to Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo to move criminal case numbers 9855-9857, which involve allegations against Ma The Pong, Wang Weili, Lang Xu, and others, from the jurisdiction of the Capas Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 66 to a more neutral venue in Metro Manila.
Secretary Remulla emphasized the importance of safeguarding the integrity of the trial proceedings by avoiding local biases or undue influences, a measure deemed crucial for handling the high-profile nature of the cases which transcend local boundaries. The Supreme Court found these arguments persuasive and has directed the Capas RTC to transfer all relevant files to the Pasig City RTC.
Among those to be tried is Huang Zhiyang, described as the ‘boss of all bosses’ of illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, alongside other business partners of Guo. The legal actions stem from allegations lodged by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, highlighting the severity of the accusations which include torture, rape, forced labor, and other heinous acts under the human trafficking framework.
Secretary Remulla lauded the Supreme Court’s decision, affirming the DOJ’s commitment to prosecuting these cases vigorously and upholding justice. “I commend the SC for its unwavering commitment to safeguard the laws of the land in order to avoid the miscarriage of justice, the DOJ vows that we will prosecute these cases with burning resolve and integrity,” Remulla stated.