MANILA — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has filed a criminal tax evasion complaint against dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, accusing her of failing to pay nearly P1 billion in taxes on allegedly undeclared income and assets uncovered during investigations linked to the controversial Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Bamban.
In a statement, the BIR said the complaint stemmed from information gathered after Guo testified before a Senate inquiry into the raided POGO facility, where she admitted ownership of various properties, vehicles, and corporate interests.
The tax agency said subsequent investigations revealed extensive assets and financial activities allegedly connected to Guo, including landholdings, motor vehicles, a helicopter, banking transactions, corporate shares, and other acquisitions that were not sufficiently supported by available financial records.
According to the BIR, the disparity between Guo’s declared financial information and the scale of her assets and expenditures pointed to possible undeclared income and unpaid tax obligations.
The agency also alleged that Guo failed to file income tax returns from 2019 to 2023, strengthening the basis for the criminal complaint.
During the Senate hearings, Guo acknowledged ownership of various assets, including real estate properties, vehicles, and interests in several corporations.
However, tax authorities said their investigation uncovered substantially more assets and transactions that warranted further scrutiny.
Authorities have yet to disclose the specific criminal charges filed before the courts, but the BIR said the case involves an estimated tax deficiency amounting to around P1 billion.
The filing of the tax evasion complaint adds to the growing list of legal troubles confronting Guo following investigations into the Bamban POGO operations, which authorities have linked to various alleged illegal activities.
Guo was previously convicted of qualified human trafficking in connection with activities tied to the gaming complex.
The tax case is expected to proceed through judicial proceedings as government agencies continue pursuing cases arising from the broader investigation into the Bamban POGO hub and its alleged unlawful operations./PN
