The ongoing case of Alice Guo, a Chinese-Filipino former mayor, continues to attract attention in the Philippines. A Philippine Senator responsible for investigating the matter indicated on Friday that the possibility of Guo being involved in espionage activities for the Chinese Communist Party cannot be ruled out.
According to reports from Reuters, Senator Risa Hontiveros stated to foreign journalists, “I cannot yet conclude that she is not involved (in Chinese espionage), or that those associated with her are not involved in espionage activities.”
Hontiveros added, “We see significant and deep connections between them (Guo and others) and transnational criminal groups, which have not only harmed Filipino citizens but also citizens from around the world.”
She further mentioned that the investigation in the Senate has just scratched the surface.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila and Guo’s lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for comments from Reuters regarding Hontiveros’ statements.
The court has postponed Guo’s scheduled questioning on Friday and made a decision on her request for dismissal of the case.
In March of this year, Philippine authorities conducted a raid on an approximately 8-hectare offshore gambling resort in Bamban city, which was found to be a network scam site involving human trafficking and illegal detention. They rescued nearly 700 coerced individuals, including over 200 Chinese and 3 Taiwanese. It was discovered during the raid that Guo Guoping owned half of the gambling resort. Subsequently, a Senate committee led by Senator Hontiveros launched an investigation into Guo.
During an earlier hearing, Hontiveros asked Guo if she was a “asset” of the Chinese Communist Party. Guo insisted that she is a genuine Filipino citizen, but Hontiveros had previously informed the media on June 27 that the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation found that Guo, elected in 2022, shared fingerprints with a woman who entered the Philippines with a Chinese passport as a teenager in 2003. This led to her suspicion that Guo is not a true Filipino but a Chinese citizen.
Guo denied being a spy and refuted other accusations against her, stating they are malicious.
As tensions escalate between the Philippines and China over sovereignty claims in the South China Sea, suspicions toward China’s activities are increasing in the Philippines. The case of Alice Guo has captured the attention of the Filipino public.