Former Bamban Mayor “fake Filipino” Alice Guo, who was accused of spying for China, has been found guilty of human trafficking for her role in running a scam center. On Nov 20, she and three others were sentenced to life in prison and a fine of 2 million pesos (US$33,832).
Guo’s case has gripped the Philippines for years, after authorities uncovered one of the country's biggest scam centers in her small town of Bamban. Some 800 Filipinos and foreigners were later rescued from the scam hub after a raid, with many of them saying they were forced to run "pig butchering" scams.
The 35-year-old, who was arrested last year after being on the run for weeks, has denied all allegations against her.
It is not yet clear if she might appeal.
There are still five ongoing cases against Guo, including one where she has been charged with money laundering.
In 2022, Guo was elected as the mayor of Bamban, north of the capital Manila.
But in 2024, the sleepy town was thrust into the national spotlight after authorities uncovered a sprawling scam center there that was hiding under online casinos, known locally as Philippine Online Gaming Operations (Pogos), which cater to clients in China, where gambling is illegal.
Guo initially denied all knowledge of the compound, but a senate investigation that followed questioned her inability to detect the eight hectare centre that was located near her office.
It later emerged that the compound — which contained 36 buildings — was built on land which Guo previously owned.
They also found discrepancies in her life story — she was not, as she had claimed, born in the Philippines, but had migrated from China with her family as a teenager. MPs later found that her fingerprints matched those of a 
national named Guo Hua Ping.
She was soon removed from office. And as more details around the case emerged, she disappeared in July 2024, prompting an international operation across four countries to bring her back.
In Sep 2024, she was arrested in Indonesia and extradiated to the Philippines. Her Philippine passport was also canceled.
bbc.com/news/articles/
globalnation.inquirer.net/298988/alice-g
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national named Guo Hua Ping.
She was soon removed from office. And as more details around the case emerged, she disappeared in July 2024, prompting an international operation across four countries to bring her back.
In Sep 2024, she was arrested in Indonesia and extradiated to the Philippines. Her Philippine passport was also canceled.
bbc.com/news/articles/
globalnation.inquirer.net/298988/alice-g
channelnewsasia.com/asia/alice-guo
Quote
Byron Wan
@Byron_Wan
“… undoubtedly a Chinese citizen…who is not only disqualified to hold the position of Mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, but also from running the said position in the first place.”
“Such being the case, respondent Guo Hua Ping a.k.a. Alice Leal Guo is nothing more but a usurper of the x.com/Byron_Wan/stat…
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