MANILA — A former Philippine mayor under investigation for alleged connections to Chinese criminal syndicates is reported to have fled the country. The Philippine president's office responded by ordering the cancellation of her passport on Monday.
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| Philippines says ex-mayor accused of Chinese crime links has fled the country |
Alice Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping, allegedly left the Philippines and was recorded arriving in Malaysia from Indonesia on July 18. She then traveled to Singapore on July 21 before moving to Batam, Indonesia, via ferry on August 18, according to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, which cited immigration records from those countries.
In a memo dated August 20, the Office of the Philippine President directed the justice and foreign ministries to take action to cancel Guo's passport. However, the exact date of her departure from the Philippines remains unclear.
Guo's lawyer, Stephen David, maintains that she is still in the Philippines and has denied all allegations against her. "Without further evidence proving that she has left the country, we rely on our client's assurances in good faith," David said in a statement, though he did not provide additional details.
Indonesia's Immigration agency has declined to confirm the travel information, citing privacy concerns, and the foreign ministry has yet to comment on whether it has been contacted by Philippine authorities regarding the case.
Guo is facing a Senate arrest warrant for her refusal to attend hearings related to her alleged ties with Chinese criminal groups. This investigation has captured national attention amidst growing tensions between Manila and Beijing.
The probe began in May following a raid on a casino in Guo’s town of Bamban in March. Authorities discovered alleged scams originating from a facility on land partially owned by Guo. Recently removed from office by the Ombudsman for grave misconduct, Guo has denied any criminal connections and claims she is a natural-born Philippine citizen. She has labeled the accusations against her as "malicious."
Her case has emerged during a period of heightened Philippine skepticism towards China, fueled by ongoing disputes over South China Sea territories.
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