SC orders transfer of Guo trafficking cases from Capas to Pasig

MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) secured the Supreme Court (SC) approval to transfer to the National Capital Region from Capas, Tarlac the human trafficking charge against dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo and her cohorts.

In a letter dated April 22 to Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla urged the SC to transfer to Metro Manila criminal case numbers 9855-9857 (PP vs Ma The Pong, Wang Weili, Lang Xu et. al), which were lodged before the Capas Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 66, according to a news release on Sunday.

Remulla cited the pressing need to safeguard national interest and ensure fairness in the justice system, considering that the high-profile cases exceed local boundaries which affect national security and general policies.

In addition, Remulla emphasized the importance of preserving the integrity of trial proceedings by preventing possible local biases or undue influences thereto with the utilization of a neutral venue along with the court's blessing.

The SC found the request meritorious and ordered the Capas lower court to transfer all the files related to the disputed cases to the Pasig City RTC.

Aside from Guo, others to be charged in court are her business partners including Huang Zhiyang, the foreign national identified as the "boss of all bosses" of illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators.

The charges stemmed from the complaint filed by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission.

Under the law governing trafficking in persons, individuals who organize an establishment engaged in human trafficking may be held accountable for human trafficking despite not having direct participation in criminal activities such as torture, rape, forced labor and other related acts.

"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 said in a statement. (PNA)