 "Who is Alice Guo? Ex-Mayor of a small Philippine town, accused of being a spy for China")
Accused of deep ties to Chinese criminal syndicates and facing numerous allegations ranging from money laundering to human trafficking, Alice Guo’s story reveals a web of deception, political intrigue, and international crime.
After months on the run across Southeast Asia, the former mayor of a small Philippine town was finally deported from Indonesia back to the Philippines.
What is the story around Alice Guo?
Alice Guo, 34, was once the mayor of Bamban, a quiet agricultural town north of Manila. Running for office in 2022, Guo’s public persona was that of a relatable and humble woman, even featuring in campaign videos showing her tending chickens and eating traditional Filipino food.
She presented herself as a natural-born Filipino, but as investigations into her background unfolded, this image began to unravel. In reality, Guo’s real name was Guo Hua Ping, a Chinese national with alleged connections to a vast criminal network operating in Southeast Asia.
Her rise to political office came under sharp scrutiny after Philippine authorities raided a gambling hub in Bamban in March, discovering hundreds of foreign workers, including Chinese and Vietnamese nationals, who had allegedly been trafficked and forced to participate in various online scams.
As the investigation progressed, Guo’s fingerprints were linked to immigration records from 2005, revealing her Chinese nationality. Her alleged deep involvement in illegal gambling and human trafficking further exacerbated suspicions that she had been operating as a sleeper agent for China.
What are the criminal allegations against Alice Guo?
Guo’s political rise was swift, but her fall from grace was even faster. She was elected mayor in 2022, but her reputation took a dramatic turn when the Presidential Anti-Organised Crime Commission (PAOCC) received reports from two foreign workers about a POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation) in Bamban.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe workers claimed they were held against their will, prompting a raid in which authorities found over 800 trafficked individuals. The building, which was partially owned by Guo, had been operating as a front for online gambling targeting Chinese citizens and linked to organised crime.
Senator Risa Hontiveros led a senate inquiry into Guo’s activities in May 2024, where her absence at key hearings fueled public outrage. Although Guo cited death threats and mental health issues as reasons for not attending, her failure to appear raised further suspicion.
The inquiry revealed that Guo had incorporated multiple businesses tied to gambling and money laundering operations, many of which had connections to criminals in China, some already serving prison time for fraud in Singapore.
Philippine law enforcement agencies filed multiple money laundering charges against Guo and her associates in August 2024, accusing them of laundering over PHP 100 million ($1.8 million) and owning assets worth over PHP 6 billion ($106 million).
Guo, her alleged sister Shiela, and another accomplice named Cassandra Li Ong were implicated in running scam operations through companies like Baofu Land Development and Hongshen Gaming Technology Inc. Before authorities could arrest her, Guo fled the Philippines in July, leading to an international manhunt.
How was Alice Guo captured?
Guo’s escape from the Philippines sparked outrage. She reportedly fled the country by boat to Malaysia, accompanied by two of her supposed siblings. From there, she travelled through Singapore and finally reached Indonesia.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, on August 21, took to X, and wrote: ??? ?? ?? ?????: ????? ???? ????."
The departure of 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗚𝘂𝗼 has laid bare the corruption that undermines our justice system and erodes public trust.
— Bongbong Marcos (@bongbongmarcos) August 20, 2024
𝗟𝗘𝗧 𝗠𝗘 𝗕𝗘 𝗖𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥: 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹.
We will 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 the culprits who have betrayed the people's trust and aided in her… pic.twitter.com/70KiZX5Zre
On September 3, 2024, Guo was arrested in Tangerang, Indonesia, by Interpol officials after a tip-off. According to reports, a Singaporean national had helped her secure accommodation on Batam Island, where she stayed under the radar until her arrest.
In her first public statement after her extradition to the Philippines, Guo maintained her innocence, claiming, “I have received death threats, and I asked for help (from authorities). And I was happy when I saw them. I felt safe.” Her legal team expressed relief that she would finally have the opportunity to respond to the numerous allegations against her.
Meanwhile, Marcos Jr vowed to ensure that justice would be served, stating, “The arm of the law is long, and it will reach you.”
Is Guo connected to Chinese criminal syndicates?
A central element of Guo’s case revolves around her suspected connections to Chinese criminal syndicates. During the senate inquiry, her evasive answers about her Chinese parentage, lack of ties to the local community, and the discovery of her business ventures with individuals already convicted of fraud raised red flags.
It was revealed that she had worked closely with Zhang Ruijin and Lin Baoying, both of whom were serving time in Singapore for using forged documents to launder millions of dollars, reported CNN.
In July 2024, Marcos Jr delivered a stern message to the nation, highlighting concerns over the growing presence of offshore casinos like the one in Bamban. “Disguising as legitimate entities, their operations have ventured into illicit areas furthest from gaming, such as financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, brutal torture — even murder,” he stated. Marcos then ordered a complete shutdown of such operations across the country.
The investigation into Guo became a symbol of the Philippines’ rising concerns about China’s growing influence in the region, particularly in light of increasing tensions over overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea.
A potential prisoner swap?
Guo’s arrest also brought attention to the case of Gregor Johann Haas, an Australian national with alleged ties to the Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel, who is currently detained in the Philippines.
Media reports speculated that Indonesian authorities had proposed a prisoner swap: Guo in exchange for Haas, who is wanted in Indonesia for attempting to smuggle over five kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in floor tiles, reported Reuters.
Philippine Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla, however, denied any formal request for such a swap but acknowledged that such discussions might be taking place behind the scenes.
Also Read: How former New York Governor aide Linda Sun 'spied' for China in exchange for salted ducks
With inputs from agencies
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