A former Philippine mayor accused of spying for China has been sentenced to life in prison for human trafficking, in a case that has captured national attention. Alice Guo, 35, and three co-defendants were also ordered to pay fines totaling 2 million pesos ($33,800).
Guo, who served as mayor of Bamban, north of Manila, in 2022, was arrested last year after evading authorities for weeks. She has consistently denied the allegations. Investigations revealed one of the country’s largest scam centres in her town, where around 800 Filipinos and foreigners were forced to participate in so-called “pig butchering” scams, a type of financial fraud targeting overseas clients.
The scam hub, disguised as Philippine Online Gaming Operations (POGO) facilities, operated on an eight-hectare compound near Guo’s office, consisting of 36 buildings. The centre catered mainly to clients in mainland China, where gambling is illegal.
Authorities uncovered discrepancies in Guo’s personal history, discovering she was not born in the Philippines as previously claimed but had migrated from China as a teenager. Further investigation revealed her fingerprints matched those of a Chinese national, Guo Hua Ping. She was subsequently removed from office and became a fugitive in July 2024, prompting an international manhunt spanning four countries. She was arrested in Indonesia in September and extradited back to the Philippines, where her passport was revoked.
Guo faces five ongoing cases, including charges of money laundering. The case has drawn attention amid broader tensions between the Philippines and China over disputed reefs and territories in the South China Sea. While the Philippine government has been vocal about her alleged activities, China has not publicly commented on the allegations.
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The court’s ruling marks a significant victory for Philippine authorities in their efforts to dismantle large-scale online scams, which have proliferated in the country in recent years. Residents of Bamban, who initially viewed Guo as a compassionate leader, watched as the once-quiet town became the centre of a high-profile criminal investigation and international news story.
The verdict also underscores ongoing concerns about the intersection of local politics, foreign influence, and cybercrime in the Philippines, highlighting the challenges authorities face in regulating online gambling and financial fraud operations.