Alice Leal Guo, a former mayor of Bamban, the Philippines, wanted by authorities for alleged ties to Chinese criminal networks, has been apprehended in Indonesia after fleeing the country in July, CNN reports.
The arrest, announced by Philippine officials on Wednesday, comes after months of investigations and allegations of widespread fraud and exploitation.
Guo, identified as Chinese national Guo Hua Ping by Philippine immigration authorities, vanished from the Philippines amid a brewing scandal surrounding her activities. The scandal involved a massive scam center in her hometown of Bamban, where hundreds of people were allegedly held against their will and forced to participate in fraudulent schemes.
The Senate launched an inquiry into Guo’s activities, uncovering claims of illegal gambling, money laundering, human trafficking, and “pig-butchering” scams, where victims are lured into online relationships and then defrauded. Guo, elected as a first-time politician in 2022, had amassed major wealth within a short period, raising further suspicion about her financial dealings.
Philippine authorities believe Guo fled the country via a network of vans and boats, traveling through Malaysia and Singapore before reaching Indonesia. Indonesian police apprehended her in Jakarta’s Tangerang City early Wednesday morning.
In a video statement, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. praised law enforcement officials for Guo’s arrest.
The arrest follows a series of raids in March at a suspected Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation (POGO) in Bamban, where authorities discovered evidence of “love scam” scripts, firearms, and mobile phones allegedly used for fraudulent transactions. Over 800 people from various countries were rescued, claiming to have been held captive and forced to work.
The scandal has highlighted the growing issue of POGOs in the Philippines, which have been criticized for their links to criminal activities and exploitation of foreign workers.
