The former mayor of the Philippines, Alice Guo, was apprehended in Indonesia following many weeks of evasion. Since July, Guo has been the target of four separate nations by Philippine officials, who are investigating her possible role in China-sponsored espionage and protection of criminal syndicates. Guo, who disputes the accusations, faces charges of using her position to protect internet casinos in her hometown of Bamban from being exploited for human trafficking and fraud.
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced her arrest and approved her extradition to the Philippines, effective as early as Wednesday.
He warned anybody trying to elude punishment that “the arm of the law is long and it will reach you,” issuing a severe warning. The case of Guo has garnered noteworthy interest on a national and international level, especially in light of the ongoing tensions arising from territorial disputes in the South China Sea between China and the Philippines. Her spectacular escape and subsequent arrest have further stoked suspicions over her genuine identity. Guo’s fingerprints matched those of a Chinese person named Guo Hua Ping, which raised fears among the MPs looking into the fraud activities that she may be a Chinese spy.
Authorities in Bamban discovered a sizable fraud center in March operating under the pretense of Philippine Online Gaming Operations (Pogos). Pogos served Chinese clients despite gambling being banned in China. The raid revealed the company’s dark side, rescuing over 700 workers, including both foreigners and Chinese national. The former mayor of the Philippines, Alice Guo, came under further scrutiny as the inquiry progressed because of her evasive answers about her ties and past. Her story, which has now led to her imprisonment, serves as a reminder of the intricate network of crime and espionage in the Philippines and the continuous fight against corruption and foreign influence.
