Christine Tan
The Straits Times
Singapore – Zhang Ruijin and Lin Baoying, two foreign nationals previously convicted in Singapore for money laundering, now face human trafficking charges in the Philippines, where they are accused of operating a scam ring that exploited hundreds of foreign nationals.
In March 2024, Philippine authorities raided a compound in Bamban, Tarlac, and rescued 432 Chinese nationals, 371 Filipinos, 57 Vietnamese, eight Malaysians, three Taiwanese, two Indonesians, and two Rwandans who had been trafficked into forced labor. Zhang and Lin, both originally from China, are accused of being key players in this human trafficking syndicate.
Along with former Bamban mayor Alice Guo, Zhang, Lin, and several others have been charged by the Philippines’ Department of Justice (DOJ) for qualified human trafficking, a non-bailable offense that could carry life imprisonment. The charges stem from their involvement in a scam operation disguised as legitimate business activities. The compound where the victims were held was found to be linked to Baofu Land Development, a company founded by Guo and her associates, including Zhang, Lin, and other individuals, in 2019.
Zhang and Lin had previously been sentenced to 15 months in jail after pleading guilty to money laundering and forgery in Singapore. After serving their sentences, they were deported to Cambodia in mid-2019. However, they now face more serious charges related to human trafficking, as the operation they were allegedly involved in exploited vulnerable workers for forced labor under the guise of legitimate employment.
Former Mayor Alice Guo’s Role:
Guo, who served as mayor of Bamban until her removal in August 2024, is central to the investigation. She was arrested in Indonesia on September 3, 2024, after fleeing the Philippines in July to evade investigation into her alleged involvement with Chinese criminal syndicates. In addition to the trafficking charges, Guo is also facing charges related to tax fraud, money laundering, and graft, with accusations that she fabricated her birth certificate to hide her Chinese origins and illegally run for public office.
A significant part of the investigation also revolves around the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), which have long been a source of controversy in the Philippines. Some lawmakers suspect that legitimate POGOs have served as fronts for illegal operations such as scam hubs, where human trafficking victims are forced to work.
Huang Zhiyang, a key figure in the case and a known leader of POGOs in the country, is reportedly the “boss of all bosses” behind the illicit operations in the Philippines. His involvement, alongside Guo’s, is a critical component of the investigation.
The Philippines continues to cooperate with international authorities in handling the case, as the human trafficking syndicate spans across multiple countries. The Philippines government has vowed to pursue justice for the victims, and further investigations are ongoing as they uncover more about the human trafficking networks operating in the region.
The charges against Zhang, Lin, and Guo have brought attention to the growing issue of human trafficking linked to organized criminal networks in Southeast Asia. The case also sheds light on the complex ties between legitimate businesses, political figures, and illegal operations that exploit vulnerable individuals for profit.
With these arrests and ongoing investigations, Philippine authorities are sending a strong message that they are committed to dismantling human trafficking rings and holding those in power accountable for their role in such crimes.
