The Philippine Senate has cited small-town mayor Alice Guo in contempt for failing twice to appear at a hearing investigating accusations that she is a Chinese spy involved in human trafficking. Guo cited stress for her absence.
On Thursday, authorities froze Guo’s assets and announced an arrest warrant was being prepared.
The case, which has captivated the Southeast Asian nation, began in February when a police raid on a POGO (online gambling) compound in Bamban, Tarlac, raised suspicions. The business, Zun Yuan Technology, was suspected of engaging in crypto scams, human trafficking, and cybercrime.
Questions have also been raised about Guo’s Philippine citizenship due to inconsistencies in the details she provided about her birth and education. She claims to be the love child of a Chinese father and a Filipina maid, growing up hidden on a pig farm.
Chinese Agent Allegations
Investigations into Guo’s background have revealed contradictions in her story. Her flaunted wealth seemed inconsistent for the mayor of a quiet town.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros noted at a Senate hearing that, despite Bamban being a close-knit community, nobody knew Guo before she ran for mayor. All her social media accounts were registered in 2022.
These mysteries have led to accusations that Guo is a Chinese agent, which she denies. She claims she sold her interest in the land that hosted Zun Yuan Technology before launching her mayoral campaign.
‘No One Knows Her’
This case arises during a period of strained relations between Manila and Beijing, particularly over territories in the South China Sea. These tensions have heightened under the Philippines’ new president, Bongbong Marcos.
POGO Fear
There is also growing anxiety around the POGO industry, dominated by Chinese nationals. POGOs, or Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, are licensed in the Philippines but target customers outside the country, primarily in China.
Calls to ban POGOs have increased due to their links to organized crime and now potential threats to national security. The Philippine National Police reported over 4,000 POGO-linked crimes, including kidnapping and murder, from January 2017 to mid-2023.
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