Recently, the autonomous city of Bamban in the province of Tarlac in the Philippines has attracted attention as Mayor Alice Guo has found herself at the center of controversy. Mayor Guo was called to the Senate for questioning regarding her alleged involvement in a transnational fraud scheme originating from China, which unexpectedly brought to light mysterious backgrounds prompting speculation about whether she is a “asset” of the Chinese Communist Party.
According to a recent report by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), law enforcement authorities in the Philippines discovered that a Pogo (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator) in Bamban was actually a front for a transnational fraud center based in China. In a raid conducted last March, police rescued nearly 700 individuals engaged in online fraud activities, including 202 Chinese nationals coerced into posing as online lovers for scams, and 73 other foreign nationals.
Investigators found that the 35-year-old Mayor Guo owned half of the land where this Pogo operation was situated, located right behind her office. Mayor Guo claimed that she had sold the land two years prior to her mayoral campaign.
The fraud center, occupying nearly eight hectares of land, featured amenities such as a grocery store, warehouse, swimming pool, and even a wine cellar. The center’s staff worked on long white tables with rows of computers.
Investigators also discovered that a helicopter and a Ford Expedition SUV were registered under Mayor Guo’s name. However, she insisted that these assets had been sold off long ago.
During the administration of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, the Pogo industry thrived in the country. However, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. initiated a review of the industry after authorities found that many Pogos were fronts for human trafficking and online fraud crimes.
During the Senate hearing, Mayor Guo provided vague responses regarding her personal and business background, raising suspicions. Following the hearing, Senator Risa Hontiveros questioned Mayor Guo about her potential ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
Last Thursday, President Marcos expressed concerns about Mayor Guo’s case during a media interview. He stated, “No one knows her. We want to know where she came from, which is why we are working with the immigration bureau to investigate her nationality status.”
Under Senator Hontiveros’s questioning, Mayor Guo finally admitted that her birth certificate was only registered with the local government when she was 17 years old. She explained that this was because she was born at home, not in a hospital or clinic, though she couldn’t provide further details.
She also mentioned that she was homeschooled and that her family raised pigs. However, she could not recall the name of the homeschool organization, only mentioning a teacher’s name.
Mayor Guo claimed that her father is Filipino, but in business records, he was identified as a Chinese citizen.
According to a report by Manila media company GMA News, in her campaign speech in 2022, Mayor Guo stated, “Many people are asking, who is Alice Guo? I am Alice Guo from Bamban. My mother is Filipino, and my father is Chinese.”
When asked for more information about her birth and education by Senator Hontiveros, the response Mayor Guo gave was simply, “I will get back to you.”
Senator Hontiveros expressed shock at Mayor Guo’s responses, especially concerning her background, questioning whether individuals like Mayor Guo with mysterious backgrounds are serving the interests of China and attempting to influence Philippine politics.
Attending the hearing, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian remarked, “Mayor Alice Guo of Bamban always answers our questions with ‘I don’t know,’ she can’t even remember where she lives, which is hard to believe.”
In the Philippines, local officials often come from established family backgrounds, but the surname Guo is not commonly seen among the Filipino-Chinese community. The local election commission stated that Mayor Guo suddenly registered for the mayoral race in Bamban in 2021 and was elected smoothly.
On the city government’s official website, Mayor Guo’s promotional photos can be seen prominently displayed. The website showcases their efforts against human trafficking and violence against women and children as their top accomplishments.
As the Philippines’ relations with the Chinese authorities are strained due to territorial disputes in the South China Sea, Mayor Guo’s case has garnered significant external attention.
However, President Marcos stated last Thursday that the investigation into Mayor Guo aims to prevent foreign citizens from holding public positions in the Philippines, emphasizing that “the Philippines does not necessarily only focus on one country.”
He added, “We will strengthen law enforcement. Laws exist, the problem is some people think they can bring money in or they are being bribed.”
The Philippine government is continuing its further investigation into Mayor Guo’s case.
Epoch Times reached out to Mayor Alice Guo for comment via email, but there has been no response as of deadline.