By Smartencyclopedia with Agencies
A former Philippine mayor, Alice Guo, who was accused of spying for China and had been on the run for weeks, has been arrested in Indonesia. Her capture marks the culmination of a cross-border manhunt that spanned four countries and drew international attention.
Guo, the former mayor of Bamban, a small town known for pig farming, had been under investigation for allegedly protecting online casinos that served as fronts for scam centers and human trafficking syndicates. She fled the Philippines in July, prompting a massive search that eventually led to her arrest on Tuesday near Jakarta.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed Guo’s arrest, stating she would be extradited to the Philippines as early as Wednesday. “This arrest serves as a warning to those who attempt to evade justice. The arm of the law is long and it will reach you,” Marcos wrote on Facebook.
A Scandal Unfolds
The scandal surrounding Guo began in March when authorities raided a sprawling scam center in Bamban. The operation, disguised as Philippine Online Gaming Operations (Pogo), catered to clients in mainland China, where gambling is illegal. The raid revealed the exploitation of nearly 700 workers, including 202 Chinese nationals and 73 other foreigners, who were forced to pose as online lovers to defraud victims.
As the investigation unfolded, suspicions about Guo’s background intensified. Although she claimed to have grown up on a family farm with her Chinese father and Filipina mother, her fingerprints reportedly matched those of a Chinese national named Guo Hua Ping. This led some Philippine senators to accuse her of being a Chinese spy who had infiltrated the country to provide cover for criminal activities.
Guo denied all allegations, but her opaque answers during a Senate investigation fueled further suspicion. Despite her claims of being a political outsider, she had been elected mayor in a region typically dominated by entrenched political families, raising questions about her rapid rise to power.
Flight and Arrest
After refusing to attend further Senate hearings, a warrant was issued for Guo’s arrest in July. However, by then, she had already fled the country. Authorities believe she slipped past border checks and traveled by boat through Malaysia and Singapore before arriving in Indonesia.
Guo was arrested while wearing light pink pajamas and a white coat, according to photos released by authorities. President Marcos praised the efforts of law enforcement but also expressed outrage at the corruption that allowed her to escape in the first place. “Her escape laid bare the corruption that undermines our justice system and erodes the people’s trust,” he said.
Political and Diplomatic Fallout
Guo’s case has sparked public fury in the Philippines, where the issue of Chinese influence is a sensitive topic. Relations between the Philippines and China have been tense, particularly over territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The allegations against Guo have only heightened these tensions.
The Philippine government’s response to the scandal included a ban on Pogos, which had flourished under former President Rodrigo Duterte, known for his close ties with China. Marcos, who has sought to distance the Philippines from Beijing, used the scandal to underscore his administration’s commitment to fighting corruption and organized crime.
China has not commented on the allegations against Guo, leaving many questions about her true identity and connections unanswered. However, her arrest and the ongoing investigation will likely continue to strain diplomatic relations between the two countries.
As Guo awaits extradition, the Philippine government faces pressure to ensure that justice is served and that the full extent of the corruption and criminal activities she is accused of facilitating is brought to light.