Merlie Joy Castro, an ordinary citizen caught in the middle of the ongoing controversy of illegal operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) and Alice Guo, has chosen to voluntarily surrender to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on October 8 to confront charges of qualified human trafficking—a crime that Merlie Joy asserts she did not commit.
Her decision to surrender came after the Senate hearing that day, which investigated Alice Guo and the illegal operations of POGO. Merlie Joy was invited to the hearing by Senator Risa Hontiveros, who urged the public to listen to Merlie whom the senator described as the “real victim.”
Identity theft victims to face charges head-on “unlike Alice Guo”
“Si Guo Hua Ping paulit-ulit, lalo na mula nung nakaraang hearing, sabi niya “I’m a victim, I’m a victim” pero ang totoo pong biktima ay ang mga kagaya niyo Ms. Merlie na ginamit ang identity para mag-incorporate ng mga POGO companies.” Hontiveros stressed that unlike Alice Guo, Merlie Joy is not evading accountability by voluntarily surrendering to the NBI. “Chinarge kayo ng human trafficking at hindi tulad ni Guo Ha Ping, hindi kayo tumakas. At hindi kayo tatakas.”
Coming from a low-income family, and with her husband unable to return due to contractual work obligations, Merlie Joy was initially hesitant to surrender, fearing for her children’s safety and well-being. Nevertheless, Merlie Joy recognized the necessity of facing the charges head-on.
“Lalakasan ko lang po yung loob ko, iniisip ko lang talaga kailangan (itong) gawin kasi ito yung dapat harapin, dahil alam kong wala po akong kasalanan,” she shared.
In her community, Merlie Joy has become the subject of gossip, deeply affecting her two children who have been emotional and have faced taunts from classmates and people in their barangay asking, “Diba nanay mo yung kasali sa POGO? POGO yung nanay mo ‘no?”
Her resolve for justice is not just for herself, but to prove to her children that their mother is innocent.
“Hindi lang para sa sarili ko talaga, kung hindi para sa anak ko patunayan ko sa kanila na hindi totoo yung sinasabi ng mga tao na kasali ako… gusto ko hanggang sa huli maniwala sakin yung anak ko na hindi ako nagsisinungaling,” she added.
Government agencies, PSA and DFA urged to step up against identity theft
Atty. Ansheline Bacudio, Merlie Joy’s legal counsel and program director at the alternative lawyering group IDEALS Inc., emphasizes the critical role of legal identity in protecting the rights of Filipinos.
“Legal identity is not merely a bureaucratic necessity but a fundamental right that underpins the dignity and safety of every Filipino citizen. When a person’s identity is stolen, it not only leads to wrongful accusations but also inflicts emotional and financial distress. Merlie’s courage in facing these challenges has been inspiring, and we will fight alongside her as she reclaims her name,” she says.
In addition to the controversial case of ‘Alice Guo’ or ‘Guo Ha Ping,’ another figure, ‘Jesica Francisco,’ was highlighted during the October 8 Senate hearing. According to the NBI, Francisco shares a fingerprint with ‘Mary Ann Maslog,’ a textbook procurement scammer from the 1990s who allegedly faked her own death to escape legal repercussions.
“Iyan po yung nakakatakot. Madami tayong kababayan na katulad ni Merlie, na ninakaw yung kanyang identity,” said Senator Win Gatchalian, as he cites how stolen identities are often used in scamming, deceiving, and estafa or fraud.
The senator urged government agencies, specifically the PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to be alarmed and to take such cases of identity theft seriously.
“Maraming nadadamay dito, importante na ang ating mga ahensya lalo na ang PSA at of course ang DFA dahil nagagamit nila itong identity theft sa pagkuha ng passport, at yan ang (ginagamit nilang) katibayan na sila ay tunay na tao. Ito ay isang bagay na dapat nating seryosohin,” he added.
Call for speedy trial
Merlie Joy urges the public to consider the real victims in this situation.
“Nanawagan ako sa publiko na isaalang-alang ang mga tunay na biktima sa sitwasyong ito. Habang sina Alice Guo at ang kanyang mga kasama ay may kapangyarihan at suporta upang umiwas sa mga kahihinatnan, ang mga ordinaryong mamamayan tulad ko ay naiwan na nakikipaglaban para sa aming buhay at dignidad,” she appealed.
“We will stand firmly in support of Merlie Joy’s pursuit of justice. The threat of identity theft must be addressed with urgency and seriousness, ensuring that all individuals can live without fear of their identity being misused,“ said Bacudio, not only determined to reunite Merlie Joy and her two children as soon as possible but committed to support Merlie Joy should she choose to file a case for identity theft.
Merlie Joy is currently detained in the custody of the NBI, which prohibits visitations from minors, preventing her from seeing her children.