Hontiveros links Mayor Guo to convicted money launderer

Senator Risa Hontiveros has raised concerns about Bamban Mayor Alice Guo's alleged connections to individuals involved in criminal activities, highlighting their shared roles as incorporators in Baofu Land Development, Inc.

Hontiveros pointed out that Zhang Ruijin, a Chinese national and co-incorporator of Baofu, was convicted last month in Singapore for involvement in the reported "largest money laundering case in Singapore," with $41 million in assets overseas including shareholdings in Baofu.

Another co-incorporator, Baoying Lin, a Dominican national, is reportedly facing charges in the same case and was described as Zhang's domestic partner.

These individuals, along with Filipino national Rachel Joan Malonzo Carreon and Cypriot national Zhiyang Huang, were listed as incorporators in Baofu's 2019 SEC documents.

Hontiveros questioned if Guo's lavish lifestyle, including the purchase of a helicopter and luxury cars, could be funded by proceeds from criminal activities.

While Mayor Guo has stated she divested her shares in Baofu prior to her election, Hontiveros maintains that the alleged ties to criminals remain a significant concern.

Hontiveros welcomed the Department of the Interior and Local Government's (DILG) decision to strip Mayor Guo of supervision over local police due to these connections.

Baofu Land Development leased its property to a POGO that was raided by Philippine authorities in April.