Jump to content

Alice Guo

Page semi-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Alice Guo
郭華萍
A bespectacled Guo wearing a white top and a pearl necklace.
Mayor of Bamban, Tarlac
In office
June 30, 2022 – August 13, 2024[a]
Suspended since June 3, 2024
Vice MayorLeonardo Anunciacion
Preceded byJose Antonio Feliciano
Succeeded byErano Timbang (acting)
Personal details
BornDate and place disputed (see below)
CitizenshipFilipino (disputed since 2024; alleged to be actually Chinese)
Political partyIndependent (until 2023; 2024–present)[1]
Other political
affiliations
NPC (2023–2024)[2]
Parent
  • Jian Zhong Guo (father)
OccupationBusinesswoman
politician
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese郭華萍
Simplified Chinese郭华萍
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinGuō Huápíng
Bopomofoㄍㄨㄛ ㄏㄨㄚˊ ㄆㄧㄥˊ
Wade–GilesKuo1 Hua2-p'ing2
IPA[kwó xwǎpʰǐŋ]
Southern Min
Hokkien POJKeh Hôa-phêng
Tâi-lôKeh Huâ-phîng

Alice Leal Guo[3] (Chinese: 郭華萍[b]; pinyin: Guō Huápíng; Wade–Giles: Kuo1 Hua2-p'ing2; IPA: /kwo˥ xwa˧˥ pʰiŋ˧˥/) is a businesswoman and former politician in the Philippines who served as the mayor of the municipality of Bamban, Tarlac, from June 30, 2022, to August 13, 2024.

Guo was accused of being a Chinese spy[6][7] and also faced investigations over her alleged involvement in illegal gambling and other criminal activities. In June 2024, she was suspended for up to six months as mayor by the Ombudsman after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) filed graft charges against her over alleged connections with Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) activities in her municipality.[8] She was dismissed by the Ombudsman on August 13, 2024. In a Senate Committee inquiry, Guo was alleged by Senators Risa Hontiveros and Win Gatchalian to have links to illegal activities by POGOs following raids in Bamban in 2023 and 2024. Her Filipino citizenship has also been questioned and is now being investigated due to inconsistencies in her documents and testimony.[9][10][11]

In July 2024, Guo's assets were frozen and an arrest order was issued for her.[12] In August 2024, it was reported that Guo had already fled the Philippines on July 17 for Malaysia, and then traveled to Singapore,[13] and finally to Indonesia,[14] where she was arrested on September 3, 2024 and deported back to the Philippines on September 5.[15][16] She is currently detained in the Philippines under police custody.[17]

Personal life

Birth and ancestry

Details of Guo's early life and educational background are disputed. Guo stated that she was born at her home, whose location she does not recall, or, according to her birth certificate, in barangay Matatalaib in the then-municipality of Tarlac,[18] Philippines, on August 31, 1990, originally thought to be July 12, 1986; her family's Special Investors Resident Visa (SIRV) application documents placed her birthplace at Fujian, China.[c] The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) also revealed the existence of three individuals named Alice Leal Guo, all born on July 12, 1986. One of these individuals has a different physical appearance from her.[24] Residents at the reported address of the second Alice Guo in Quezon City stated they were unaware of anyone named Alice Guo residing there.[25] The NBI later confirmed that the fingerprints of mayor Alice Guo and Chinese national Guo Hua Ping matched, confirming that they are the same person.[26]

Guo asserts her father's ethnicity as Chinese and states he was 70 years old as of 2024, but discrepancies about his citizenship are evident from various documents. His birth certificate identifies him as Filipino, named Angelito Guo, while his business records list him as a Chinese citizen named Jian Zhong Guo, born in 1958.[27][28][29] Guo's mother's identity is also in question; she is either a Filipino housemaid named Amelia Leal Guo, as per Guo's claim and birth certificate, or a Chinese businesswoman named Lin Wen Yi (born 1971), based on sources in Valenzuela and the Guo family's SIRV application documents.[23][30][31] Guo claimed to be her father's illegitimate child with Amelia, resulting in her being raised by her father in seclusion on a pig farm in Tarlac City. However, discrepancies arose when the birth certificates of Guo, Chinese national Zhang Mier alias[32] Shiela Leal Guo (born 1984) and Seimen Leal Guo (born 1988 or 1990) revealed discrepancies in ages of Angelito and Amelia Guo at their children's births, along with two differing marriage dates in Tarlac.[33][34] Furthermore, the couple was found to have no existing birth and marriage records in the Philippine Statistics Authority.[20][35] Jian Zhong Guo and Lin Wen Yi are co-incorporators in multiple businesses with Guo, claiming the same address in Quezon City according to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) records.[31][36][37] Guo had initially denied that Lin was her biological mother and insisted that Amelia exists,[38][39] but later admitted that Jian Zhong Guo is her father. She categorically denied Lin Wen Yi to be her mother[40]

Guo initially denied knowing Shiela and Seimen Guo, but Bureau of Immigration (BI) records suggest they had traveled abroad together.[41] She later confirmed them as her paternal half-siblings, despite their birth certificates suggesting they are full siblings.[42] However, both Guo and Sheila later separately denied being biological sisters,[43] with Shiela claiming that Jian Zhong Guo is her foster father.[44] It was later revealed that Guo has another full sibling named Wesley (born 1990, also known as Guo Xiang Dian according to the NBI)[45] and reportedly five more siblings.[46][47]

In July 2024, Solicitor-General Menardo Guevarra filed a petition to cancel Guo's birth certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority, following doubts raised on her origins and citizenship.[48] On October 4, 2024, Guo's Philippine passport was cancelled by the Department of Foreign Affairs, citing fraudulent circumstances in its acquisition.[49]

Early life and education

Some residents of Bamban, including those from barangay Virgen de los Remedios, said that Guo lived and grew up there,[28][50] adding that she also has a sibling.[51] Guo has stated that her family raised pigs for a living and that she grew up on a farm.[52] She also claimed to have spent her teenage life in Concepcion, Tarlac.[51] Furthermore, registration records of her companies showed that she had residency in Marilao, Bulacan, and Valenzuela, Metro Manila, citing her parents' embroidery business in the latter.[19] However, it was revealed that no such business existed, and her listed home address in Valenzuela belonged to a certain Bayle family, according to Senator Win Gatchalian.[20][53]

Guo stated during a testimony at a joint Philippine Senate Committee investigation that she was homeschooled.[54] However, her birth was only registered on November 22, 2005,[55][56][57] casting doubts on her early life due to the absence of hospital birth records, her inability to identify her homeschool provider, and traditional educational records, prompting inquiries into the nature of her education.[58] It was later revealed that Guo attended Grace Christian High School (now Grace Christian College) from 2000 to 2003, covering Grades 1 to 3, according to her school enrollment forms.[59] According to one of her classmates, she was known by her Chinese name, attended special classes for Filipino subjects, took a higher grade level for her Chinese classes, and completed the Chinese curriculum despite struggling with English.[60]

Her failure to recall details of her birth and early life during the Senate inquiry led to online ridicule, with Guo being dubbed My Amnesia Girl (a locally-produced film from 2010) in a popular meme.[61][62]

Residency

According to Guo's Certificate of Candidacy for Mayor filed before the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in 2021, she declared herself unmarried and claimed lifelong residency in the Philippines, residing at her registered address in Bamban for 18 years by that time.[18] It was revealed that she registered as a voter of Bamban in April 2021, just 13 months before the 2022 general elections, while COMELEC spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said that she had registered in 2018.[63][64] She also claimed to have held a Philippine passport, the only one she possesses, since when she was between 17 and 19 years old, around 2003 to 2005.[65] Her family's SIRV application documents indicate that, as Guo Hua Ping, she also holds a Chinese passport and migrated to the Philippines on January 12, 2003, at the age of 12.[23] On August 6, 2024, the COMELEC approved the filing of a criminal complaint on misrepresentation grounds against Guo after an investigation found that her fingerprints matched with that of Guo Hua Ping.[66] The complaint was formally presented before a court in Tarlac on October 28, 2024.[67]

Wealth

According to her December 2023 Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), Guo reported a net worth of 177.5 million, with assets totaling ₱367 million and liabilities exceeding ₱189 million. Her assets include nine properties in Marilao, Bamban, and Capas, acquired for over ₱20 million since 2008, three dump trucks worth ₱2 million each, and a helicopter, which was recently sold to an undisclosed British firm, worth ₱60 million. Guo also declared shares in several companies, jewelry worth ₱1.5 million, and ₱198 million in bank and cash holdings.[68]

However, discrepancies arose in Alice Guo's financial declarations. GMA Integrated News Research reported her assets at around ₱429.6 million in her June 30, 2022, SALN. An amended SALN on July 1, 2022, showed her net worth dropped to exactly ₱286 million, removing real estate properties, club shares, and a ₱138 million land acquisition deposit that were later restored by December 31, 2022.[39] Anti-Money Laundering Council documents also revealed billions of pesos were deposited into Guo's bank accounts.[69] It was also revealed that Guo holds 31 or 36 bank accounts solely under her name and owns 12 real estate properties, 12 vehicles, and a helicopter, according to the Court of Appeals, which issued a freeze order on these assets on July 11, 2024.[70][71][72]

Guo was alleged to own a McLaren 620R, which she denied. She insisted that it was borrowed from a friend for a car show event in Concepcion, Tarlac.[73] As of May 2024, the Land Transportation Office has 12 vehicles in record under Guo's name and not under one of her businesses, the McLaren is not among these.[74] Guo says she uses a GAC GS8 vehicle for her personal use.[75][76]

Miscellaneous

Conflicting details have also emerged of Guo's relationships. During the Senate hearings into her, Senator Jinggoy Estrada said that Guo has a live-in partner who manages POGO operations, while Guo said she is single.[77] She was also linked to Sual, Pangasinan Mayor Liseldo Calugay, but they denied having a romantic relationship and clarified that they are just friends.[78][79][80] Six businesses bear the combination of their names.[81] Calugay's executive assistant was later found to have helped Guo in notarizing her counter-affidavit after she had fled the country.[82]

Guo has also said that she identifies her mother tongue as Filipino and is proficient in only a few Hokkien words. She has little fluency in Kapampangan, a language common in Bamban.[56] According to her elementary classmates at Grace Christian High School, Guo did not speak either English or Filipino in the early 2000s, suggesting that she was from China.[60]

Political career

A group of people with Guo at the center
Alice Guo (center) takes part in the awarding ceremony by the Department of the Interior and Local Government in May 2023. The DILG gave rescue vehicles for Bamban due to the town receiving a Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) award in 2022.

In October 2021, Guo filed her certificate of candidacy to run for municipal mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, as an independent candidate. She tapped former mayor Leonardo Anunciacion as her running mate for vice mayor. During the campaign period for the 2022 elections, she expressed support for the candidacies of Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte for president and vice president, respectively.[83] Her campaign expenses, according to her Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE), exceeded ₱134,000.[63] In 2024, she stated that she had received support from her friends and from the "previous administration" during the campaign.[52] She also prominently used the color pink for her campaign.[84] Guo was also supported by the outgoing mayor, Jose Antonio Feliciano, who encouraged her to run despite maintaining only a "civil" relationship after he had a falling out with his previous preferred successor.[85]

In May 2022, Guo won the mayoralty race, garnering 16,503 votes against her closest rival, Anupul barangay captain Joey Salting,[63] who received 16,035 votes in the seven-way contest.[86] She became the first female municipal mayor of Bamban.[19] Assuming office on June 30, 2022, she initiated projects including the Barangayan, offering complimentary medical, dental, and documentation services and rabies vaccinations for both dogs and cats.[28] In the third quarter of 2023, following Bamban's receipt of a Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) award from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Guo joined the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC).[2]

On June 3, 2024, Guo, along with Bamban municipal business permit and licensing officer Edwin Ocampo and municipal legal officer Adenn Sigua,[87] was ordered suspended on a preventive basis for six months by the Ombudsman as part of an investigation into her alleged involvement in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). The order gave due course to the DILG's May 24 complaint.[88]

Guo was removed from the NPC on June 22, 2024.[89] In July 2024, Solicitor-General Menardo Guevarra filed a quo warranto petition with the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 34 to nullify Guo's election as mayor.[90] On August 13, 2024, Guo was removed as mayor by the Ombudsman for grave misconduct regarding her involvement in POGOs. Her retirement benefits were forfeited, and she was perpetually barred from seeking public office.[91] As her vice mayor, Leonardo Anunciacion, and seven members of the Sangguniang Bayan (municipal council) were also suspended for three months on the same charges, Guo was succeeded by Erano Timbang, a councilor who topped the 2022 race and was the only councilor who voted against the establishment of the POGO in Bamban.[86][92]

Amidst the Ombudsman's decision and ongoing investigations, Guo initially said she would be seeking reelection as mayor of Bamban in the 2025 Philippine general election.[93] But on October 8, 2024, she said she would not push through with her reelection to focus on her legal cases.[94]

Business career

Before venturing into politics, Guo has an extensive background as a businesswoman, serving as an incorporator and holding significant shares in at least 11 companies since 2010, according to Securities and Exchange Commission records.[19]

Air taxi venture

In the 2024 Senate inquiry, Guo admitted to owning a helicopter, which she acquired in 2019 and sold in 2024 to an undisclosed British firm. She said she meant to use the helicopter for an air taxi business but was compelled to sell the aircraft after the venture did not meet their expectations.[73]

Car dealership

Westcars Incorporated is one of the businesses affiliated with Guo. It is a car dealership registered on March 16, 2016.[74] Senator Risa Hontiveros in the 2024 Senate inquiry has alleged Guo to own 16 vehicles which includes sports utility vehicles, vans, and trucks which Guo reasoned is associated with the Westcars venture.[75]

View of the inside of the POGO compound, with multiple parked vehicles
Now closed Baofu Land Development compound, a POGO hub in Bamban.
Two glass doors with a "notice of closure" sign affixed to them
Notice of closure in Baofu Land Development's compound in Bamban.

Starting in June 2024, Guo faced cases in the Senate, the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Ombudsman and in the courts.[95] Senator Win Gatchalian revealed Guo's alleged links with the firm Zun Yuan Technology, Inc., an online casino firm that was registered in the Philippines as a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO).[96] Prior to her election in 2022,[97] Guo had applied for the license of Hongsheng Gaming Technology, Inc.;[96] and in late 2020, the Bamban municipal council approved its establishment and operation.[98] Hongsheng had its license to operate cancelled by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) by 2022.[98] In 2019, Baofu Land Development was incorporated by Guo, Zhang Ruijin and Lin Baoying, with Rachel Joan Malonzo Carreon and Cypriot national, Huang Zhiyang. Furthermore, Guo was reportedly spotted with a Bulgari Serpenti Viper necklace worth ₱11.9 million (US$203,000), a Louis Vuitton silk shirt, and a Chanel bag.[99][100]

The POGO hub is situated in the property which is owned by Baofu Land Development, Inc. and is located behind the municipal building in Barangay Anupul, Bamban,[97] was twice raided by the authorities: in February 2023, for alleged involvement in cryptocurrency investment scams;[101] and in March 2024, due to allegations of human trafficking and other cybercrimes;[102] at that time, it had been renamed Zun Yuan.[96]

A seated Guo wearing black and looking at something to the left.
Guo during the Senate hearing on her alleged POGO ties in September 2024

In May 2024, during a Senate inquiry, senators said that the POGO compound housed "mercenaries" allegedly involved in cybercrimes and surveillance activities, citing intelligence reports.[97][9] Meanwhile, Guo countered allegations against her, stating that she was the former landowner of the property, and her vehicle, found within the compound, was sold in 2020.[103] Guo stated that being one of the incorporators of Baofu, she later sold her shares upon entering politics.[104]

During the inquiry, Senator Risa Hontiveros suggested that Guo may be a Chinese "asset" trained to infiltrate the Philippine government and "have an influence in Philippine politics". In response to the allegations, Guo expressed dismay saying that she had been "judged prematurely" via a trial by publicity.[104] Guo stressed that she was "not a coddler, not a protector of POGOs",[105] adding in a subsequent interview by Karen Davila that she had been rattled by senators' questions into her private life and was opposed to POGOs.[106]

On May 16, 2024, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said he designated a "team of solicitors" to investigate if Guo is illegally "holding or exercising a public office" as prefatory to quo warranto under Rule 66, Revised Rules of Court.[11] On May 23, Senate President Francis Escudero said that the burden of proof regarding Guo's citizenship lies upon the accusers.[107]

The Department of the Interior and Local Government in its updated report submitted on May 17,[108] subsequently recommended that Guo be suspended by the Ombudsman following what it called "troubling findings" during its investigation over her alleged connections to POGOs.[109] Ombudsman Samuel Martires, however, told 24 Oras that his office has received the DILG's unsigned task force's fact-finding report copy. In effect the Ombudsman remanded Guo's case hinting that the DILG ought to file a valid criminal complaint with attached legal documents for Guo's criminal investigation prior to preventive suspension.[110][111] In response, Bamban vice mayor Leonardo Anunciacion said there was no basis for Guo to be suspended, while Moncada mayor Estelita Aquino, the president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Tarlac chapter, of which Guo is the treasurer, also defended Guo, saying that she is "helpful and easy to get along with" and that Bamban had progressed under her leadership.[112] The Nationalist People's Coalition also announced an investigation into Guo, with party member Win Gatchalian urging the NPC to expel her.[113][114] On June 1, the DILG announced that it had filed a criminal complaint to the Ombudsman dated May 24 charging Guo with graft.[115] On June 21, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission filed a criminal complaint to the DOJ charging Guo and 13 others with human trafficking involving the POGO in Bamban.[116]

On May 21, 2024, Hontiveros on her social media account revealed that Guo's business associates, Lin Baoying and Zhang Ruijin, were involved in the largest money laundering case in Singapore amounting to S$3.0 billion. Guo stated during the Senate hearing later that day that she only found out about her connections to the syndicate after reading Hontiveros' post.[d]

Some members of the House of Representatives also expressed intent to launch a parallel probe of Guo.[121] It also recommended that Guo be temporarily stripped of authority over the Bamban municipal police force pending her suspension.[122] In response, Guo said that she would not resign and would instead seek reelection as mayor in local elections scheduled in 2025.[123]

President Bongbong Marcos also supported an investigation, adding that she had been under investigation by authorities for some time and that she was not known to most politicians in Tarlac.[83][124] In an apparent effort to refute Marcos' claims that "no one knows her", photos from Guo's Facebook and other social media profiles resurfaced showing both Guo and Marcos together. Photos from March 2022 showed both Guo and Marcos in red shirts and face masks during the 2022 election campaign,[108] as well as photos of Guo doing a high five with Leyte's 1st district representative Martin Romualdez. Another photo from February 2024 also showed Guo elbow bumping with Marcos during the latter's inspection of the AirportNew Clark City Access Road (ANAR).[125]

On May 26, 2024, Chinese-Filipino activist and academic Teresita Ang See criticized the Senate investigation for focusing too heavily on Guo, claiming that the investigation has been diverted from its main subject of POGOs into an interrogation into Guo's lifestyle and ability to speak in Chinese languages. Ang-See called for the investigation to "focus on the issues that aid legislation", denouncing the current investigation as a "ridiculous tear-jerker 'zarzuela'".[126][127]

Guo later skipped the Senate hearings on June 25 and July 10, 2024, citing her physical and mental health as the reason.[128] Consequently, she was subpoenaed by Senator Risa Hontiveros on June 25[129] and cited for contempt by the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, chaired by Hontiveros, on July 10.[130] On July 11, Guo's assets were ordered frozen by the Court of Appeals, following a request from the Anti-Money Laundering Council.[72] On July 12, the Senate released an arrest order for Guo and her alleged relatives over the contempt charges.[131] However, subsequent searches at her possible locations failed to locate her.[132]

On August 14, a complaint was filed against Guo by the Bureau of Internal Revenue for tax evasion amounting to ₱500,000 relating to her transactions in Baofu.[133] On August 30, Guo and 22 others were charged with money laundering by authorities.[134] On September 5, an arrest warrant was issued by a court in Capas, Tarlac against Guo on charges of graft and corruption.[135]

After being repatriated from Indonesia, where she had been hiding, Guo reappeared in the Senate hearing on September 9, 2024, but was cited in contempt for a second time by the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality for perjury and giving evasive answers.[136][137] In the hearing, it was revealed that Guo was found to have paid Baofu's electric bills totaling ₱51.718 million when she was mayor from 2022 to 2024.[138] On September 17, the DOJ filed qualified human trafficking charges against Guo and others before the Pasig Regional Trial Court.[139]

On September 19, 2024, Guo appeared in a hearing of the House of Representatives Quad Committee, a merger of the congressional committees on dangerous drugs, public order and safety, human rights, and public accounts, as part of its investigation into extrajudicial killings, illegal drugs, and POGOs. She was again cited in contempt for giving evasive answers.[140]

On October 3, 2024, the NBI charged Guo with falsification of documents, perjury and obstruction of justice over her fraudulent signing of legal documents while she was in hiding.[141]

Alleged espionage for China

External videos
YouTube logo
Two YouTube videos
video icon She Zhijiang: Discarded Chinese spy or criminal mastermind?. 101 East. Al Jazeera English. September 26, 2024. Archived from the original on September 30, 2024 – via YouTube.
video icon Wang Fugui (interviewee) (October 8, 2024). She Zhijiang’s ex-cellmate Wang Fugui on Alice Guo: She's a spy but "not a special one". Office of Senator Risa Hontiveros. Archived from the original on October 8, 2024 – via Rappler on YouTube.

Guo's dubious family background and citizenship issues led her to be tagged as a Chinese spy as early as May 2024 when Senator Risa Hontiveros have asked her if she is a Chinese "asset" trained to infiltrate and influence the Philippine government.[104][105][142]

She Zhijiang, a Chinese businessman, convicted criminal, and self-confessed spy currently imprisoned in Thailand, accused Guo of being a Chinese spy in an interview with the Al Jazeera English documentary program 101 East.[143] An associate of She showed a dossier on a Guo Hua Ping that he claimed was about Alice Guo. The dossier claimed she was the daughter of a Lin Wen Yi and listed her home address as being in Fujian. A visit by an Al Jazeera researcher to the stated address found it to be the local headquarters of the Chinese Communist Party, and a number of local residents interviewed said that they recognized Guo as the daughter of Lin Wen Yi, and that she lived in the area until 2002. She appealed to Guo to confess for her own safety.[144]

In response to the documentary being shown at a House of Representatives inquiry on September 27, Guo denied being a spy and of ever knowing She, and threatened to file a lawsuit against him as well as against Al Jazeera.[7][145][146]

Hontiveros in October 8 said that Wang Fugui, a former cellmate of She, through a teleconference interview backed the allegation. Wang said Guo is indeed a spy but not a "special" spy and that it just happened that She has a copy of Guo's supposed state security background.[147] Wang also claimed that Guo's 2022 mayoral campaign was "arranged by Chinese state security".[148]

On November 26, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) stated that there is consensus in the intelligence community that Guo is an "agent of influence".[149]

Escape and subsequent capture

Guo, dressed in white, looks and smiles at the camera while partly removing her face mask.
Guo after being captured by the Directorate General of Immigration and the Indonesian National Police in Tangerang and confirming her identity
A mug shot of Guo
Mug shot of Guo, following her arrest by the Philippine National Police

On August 19, 2024, Senator Risa Hontiveros released documents appearing to show that Guo had fled the Philippines for Malaysia on July 18 before going to Singapore and taking a ferry to Riau Islands, Indonesia.[150] The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission later said that Guo arrived in Indonesia on August 18.[151] This was despite the Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order issued by the Department of Justice on June 25, 2024, against Guo and 17 others.[152] In contrast, lawyer Elmer Galicia, who notarized Guo's counter-affidavit for human trafficking charges, said that he had personally spotted Guo in the Philippines on August 14, while her lawyer Stephen David claimed that she was in the country at that time based on their conversation the day before.[153] However, Galicia later admitted that Guo did not personally swear the document before him, and a signature mismatch was later revealed by the NBI nearly a month later.[154][155] Conflicting reports emerged as to how Guo fled the Philippines, with officials saying that she escaped by air[156] and Alice and Shiela Guo saying that they fled by boats.[157][158]

On August 20, the Philippine government ordered the cancellation of the passports of Guo and her relatives.[159] On August 21, Sheila Guo and Cassandra Ong were detained in Batam, Indonesia,[160] and repatriated to the Philippines the next day.[161] By August 26, Guo was reportedly in Jakarta, according to the Bureau of Immigration.[162] On September 3, Guo was arrested by the Directorate General of Immigration and the Indonesian National Police in Tangerang.[163] On September 5, she was turned over by Indonesian authorities to Philippine authorities led by Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos and was deported back to the Philippines.[16] According to Abalos, Guo cited threats to her security as her reason to go abroad.[164] She arrived in Metro Manila through a private jet in the early hours of September 6 and was detained overnight at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.[165][166] Later that day, she was transferred to Capas, Tarlac, as part of an arrest warrant for graft charges.[17] Guo initially opted not to post bail for the case until September 20.[167][168] Thus, she would remain in Camp Crame under PNP custody, pending a final decision regarding the overlapping cases against her in the Senate and in Capas.[169] On September 13, the graft charges against Guo were transferred to the jurisdiction of a court in Valenzuela.[170] On September 14, the Supreme Court ordered the Capas RTC Branch 66 to transfer the non-bailable trafficking cases, under Republic Act No. 9208 of Guo and five others to the Pasig RTC.[171]

On September 20, the Valenzuela RTC Branch 282 rescheduled Guo's arraignment to September 30 regarding two counts of graft, in response to the pending motion to quash information filed by Guo’s camp when the case was still in Capas. Additionally, the Pasig City RTC Branch 167 ordered Guo's transfer from the Camp Crame Custodial Center to the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory.[172] The transfer occurred on September 23 and, following a mandatory medical and physical examination, she was diagnosed with a suspected left lung infection but tested negative for tuberculosis.[173]

"Celebrity" treatment controversy

Guo sits on a couch with two men on either side of her. Guo is smiling at the camera while making two V signs.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos (left) and PNP chief Rommel Marbil (right) accompanying Guo (center) during her deportation proceedings in Indonesia. This particular photo drew negative reception in the Philippines due to Guo and the officials' cheerful behavior when taken to context the actual circumstances behind the photo.[174]

Critics, including lawmakers and social media users, condemned the warm reception Guo had received from Philippine officials in Indonesia, which included them posing cheerfully in photographs with her, a practice deemed more suitable for celebrity encounters than law enforcement.[175] A photo of Secretary Abalos and PNP chief Rommel Marbil documenting a private meeting with Guo was particularly given focus by critics for its bad optics.[176]

Senator Risa Hontiveros criticized the authorities in the photos, emphasizing that Guo was a fugitive with a human trafficking case and "not a celebrity."[175] The authorities' actions were described as a "mockery" for the Philippines, highlighting the public's concern over the integrity of the legal process in Guo's case.[174] Officials from the agencies which directly participated in her arrest subsequently apologized over the issue.[177][178] President Bongbong Marcos later defended the nature of the photographs as part of selfie culture.[179] On September 9, Marcos dismissed Norman Tansingco as commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration, citing the agency's failure to prevent Guo's escape.[180]

Personal information summary

According to Guo Contradictory information
Legal birth name Alice Leal Guo Guo Hua Ping
(as per Chinese passport;[181] and fingerprint analysis by the NBI[26])
Birth date (and age) (1986-07-12) July 12, 1986 (age 38)
(as per Philippine birth certificate[26])
(1990-08-31) August 31, 1990 (age 34)
(as per Chinese passport[181])
Birthplace Tarlac, Tarlac, Philippines (as per 2019 COC) Fujian, China
(as per Chinese passport[181])
Citizenship Filipino Chinese
(as per SIRV[181])
Mother Amelia Leal Lin Wen Yi
(as per SIRV)
Father Jian Zhong Guo
(Angelito Guo)
Education Homeschooled (under "Teacher Rubilyn") Grace Christian High School (as per enrollment forms)

Electoral history

2022 Bamban mayoral election[86]
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Alice Guo 16,503 42.98
NPC Joey Salting 16,035 41.76
Aksyon Diegogarcia Ilagan 3,230 8.41
PDP–Laban Joseph Gomez 2,372 6.18
Independent Son Marimla 126 0.33
Independent Nestor Serrano 83 0.22
Independent Ferdinand Mariano 48 0.13
Total votes 35,497 100.00
Independent gain from NPC

Notes

  1. ^ Dismissed by the Ombudsman
  2. ^ As written by World News, a Binondo-based Chinese-language newspaper.[4][5] The name is transliterated in pinyin as Guō Huápíng. However, this information is independent of allegations that Guo is the same person as a Chinese citizen named Guo Hua Ping.
  3. ^ Attributed to multiple references:[19][20][21][22][23]
  4. ^ Attributed to multiple references:[117][118][119][120]

References

  1. ^ "NPC expels Bamban Mayor Alice Guo from party ahead of 2025 polls". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Domingo, Katrina (May 19, 2024). "Will Alice Guo run under Marcos Jr. slate in 2025 elections?". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  3. ^ "Certified List of Candidates (MUNICIPAL)" (PDF). Commission on Elections. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  4. ^ "華文報賀郭華萍廣告惹關注" [Chinese newspaper ad congratulating Guo Huaping attracts attention]. Chinese Commercial News (in Chinese). May 15, 2024. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  5. ^ Malasig, Jeline (May 14, 2024). "Chinese language newspaper celebrating Alice Guo's mayoral victory earns buzz". Interaksyon. Archived from the original on June 27, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  6. ^ "Philippines: Alleged Chinese spy Alice Guo arrested in Indonesia". BBC. Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Oliquino, Edjen (September 28, 2024). "Self-confessed Chinese asset names Alice Guo a Chinese spy". Daily Tribune. Archived from the original on September 28, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  8. ^ PANTI, LLANESCA T. (June 3, 2024). "Ombudsman suspends Bamban Mayor Alice Guo". GMA News Online. GMA Integrated News. Archived from the original on June 25, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Manabat, Joann (May 7, 2024). "Senators grill Bamban, Tarlac mayor with alleged POGO ties". Rappler. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  10. ^ Bajo, Anna Felicia (May 16, 2024). "Marcos says other politicians in Tarlac don't know Alice Guo". GMA News Online. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Laqui, Ian (May 16, 2024). "OSG forms team to 'look' into Bamban Mayor Guo's case". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on July 5, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  12. ^ Beltran, Sam (July 16, 2024). "Scandal deepens around Philippine fugitive mayor Alice Guo with freezing of assets". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on July 16, 2024. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  13. ^ Mangaluz, Jean. "Alice Guo fled the Philippines; traveled to Malaysia and Singapore — Risa Hontiveros". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on August 19, 2024. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  14. ^ Locus, Sundy. "BI confirms Alice Guo now in Indonesia". GMA News. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  15. ^ "'Chinese spy mayor' wanted by Philippines arrested". BBC News. Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Baroña, Franco Jose C.; Ismael, Javier Joe (September 5, 2024). "Alice Guo turned over to PH authorities, will return home". The Manila Times. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  17. ^ a b Capulong, Raya; Manabat, Johnson (September 6, 2024). "Alice Guo back in Crame after facing Tarlac court". ABS-CBN. Archived from the original on September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  18. ^ a b Tulad, Victoria via ABS-CBN News [@ABSCBNNews] (May 14, 2024). "LOOK: In her Certificate of Candidacy filed in 2021, Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, declared she is a Filipino citizen" (Tweet). Archived from the original on October 6, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024 – via Twitter.
  19. ^ a b c d Manabat, Joann; Go, Miriam Grace (May 16, 2024). "Who is Alice Guo, Bamban mayor suspected of being a Chinese asset?". Rappler. Archived from the original on July 1, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  20. ^ a b c Magsambol, Bonz (May 28, 2024). "Does Amelia Leal, Mayor Alice Guo's alleged Filipina mother, really exist?". Rappler. Archived from the original on June 13, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  21. ^ Robles, Allan (May 21, 2024). "Embattled Philippine mayor Alice Guo explains evasiveness over mysterious past: 'I'm not a spy, I'm a love child'". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  22. ^ Bordey, Hana (June 27, 2024). "NBI finds Alice Guo, Guo Hua Ping have same fingerprints". GMA News Online. Archived from the original on June 29, 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  23. ^ a b c Abarca, Charlie (June 18, 2024). "Gatchalian: Is 'Guo Hua Ping' the real Alice Guo?". INQUIRER.net. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  24. ^ Cabato, Luisa (July 3, 2024). "Third 'Alice Guo' applied for clearance in Quezon City – NBI". INQUIRER.net. Archived from the original on July 3, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  25. ^ Tulad, Victoria (June 26, 2024). "NBI doc shows there are two Alice Leal Guo; mayor a no-show in hearing". ABS-CBN. Archived from the original on June 27, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  26. ^ a b c "NBI confirms fingerprints of Mayor Alice Guo, Guo Hua Ping match – Hontiveros". Rappler.com. June 27, 2024. Archived from the original on July 6, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  27. ^ Sarao, Zacarian (May 22, 2024). "Supposed parents of Alice Guo may not even exist, Hontiveros says". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  28. ^ a b c Perez, Arra (May 16, 2024). "For acquaintances, Mayor Alice Guo a 'good person', 'long-time resident'". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  29. ^ Locus, Sundy (May 20, 2024). "Alice Guo on identity question: I'm my father's love child". GMA Integrated News. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  30. ^ Abarca, Charie (May 29, 2024). "Alice Guo's mother could also be Chinese, says Gatchalian". INQUIRER.net. Archived from the original on May 30, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  31. ^ a b Magsambol, Bonz (May 30, 2024). "The plot thickens: Is Lin Wen Yi the mother of Mayor Alice Guo?". Rappler. Archived from the original on June 2, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  32. ^ Mangaluz, Jean (August 23, 2024). "Shiela Guo, sister of ousted Bamban mayor, is a Chinese national — NBI". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on August 23, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  33. ^ Manabat, Joann (May 22, 2024). "Senators bare more irregularities in Alice Guo's citizenship". Rappler. Archived from the original on June 30, 2024. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  34. ^ ABS-CBN News [@ABSCBNNews] (May 22, 2024). "Documentary evidence presented at the Senate probe shows that Angelito Guo and Amelia Leal, the 'biological' parents of Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, have two more children. All birth certificates indicate that Guo and Leal are married, but the dates of marriage differ across the documents" (Tweet). Archived from the original on October 6, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024 – via Twitter.
  35. ^ Ombay, Giselle (May 22, 2024). "PSA data shows Alice Guo's 'parents' have no birth records". GMA News. Archived from the original on July 5, 2024. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  36. ^ Tulad, Victoria (May 30, 2024). "Who is Mayor Alice Guo's biological mom?". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on May 31, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  37. ^ Nazario, Dhel (May 30, 2024). "New documents show possible identity of Mayor Alice Guo's mother". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on July 9, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  38. ^ Magsambol, Bonz (June 5, 2024). "Another plot twist? Alice Guo says Lin Wen Yi is her father's romantic partner". Rappler. Archived from the original on June 18, 2024. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  39. ^ a b "Mayor Alice Guo's SALN shows mismatched info". GMA Integrated News. June 6, 2024. Archived from the original on June 7, 2024. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  40. ^ Casilao, Joahna Lei (September 9, 2024). "Alice Guo insists she was born in Tarlac, refuses to confirm if she is Guo Hua Ping". GMA News. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  41. ^ Magsambol, Bonz (May 22, 2024). "5 things that don't add up in Mayor Alice Guo's Senate testimony". Rappler. Archived from the original on June 28, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  42. ^ dela Peña, Kurt (May 29, 2024). "The gaping holes in Alice Guo's homeschooling yarn". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  43. ^ Alice Guo, inamin na hindi niya kapatid si Sheila Guo [Alice Guo, admits Sheila Guo is not her sibling]. Frontline Pilipinas (in Filipino). News5. September 6, 2024. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024 – via YouTube.
  44. ^ Villaruel, Jauhn Etienne (August 27, 2024). "Shiela Guo admits Alice is not actually her 'sister'". ABS-CBN. Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  45. ^ Tulad, Victoria (July 3, 2024). "NBI findings show Alice Guo's brother is Chinese -- Gatchalian". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on July 16, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  46. ^ "Ano ang status ng imbestigasyon kay Bamban Mayor Alice Guo?". GMA Integrated News. June 4, 2024. Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  47. ^ Cariaso, Bella (June 20, 2024). "Alice camp denies she's Guo Hua Ping". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on July 9, 2024. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  48. ^ Casilao, Joahna Lei (July 5, 2024). "Petition to cancel Alice Guo's birth certificate filed with Tarlac court". GMA Integrated News. Archived from the original on July 5, 2024. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  49. ^ "DFA cancels PH passport of Alice Guo". GMA Integrated News. October 4, 2024. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  50. ^ Mga residente sa Bamban, Tarlac, iginiit na totoong Pilipino si Mayor Alice Guo [Residents of Bamban, Tarlac, insist Mayor Alice Guo is a real Filipino] (in Filipino). News5Everywhere. May 14, 2024. Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024 – via YouTube.
  51. ^ a b "'I am Alice Guo... a Filipino citizen'". GMA News. May 14, 2024. Archived from the original on July 9, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  52. ^ a b Uson, Melanie (May 10, 2024). "What we know about Alice Guo, the Bamban mayor who is allegedly linked to POGOs". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on August 19, 2024. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  53. ^ Valenzuela Home and Business of Bamban Mayor Alice Guo. YouTube (in Filipino). Win Gatchalian. May 13, 2024. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  54. ^ "Tarlac mayor's dubious identity puzzles, alarms senators; Bamban mayor denies links to POGO firm". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  55. ^ "Tarlac mayor Alice Guo's nationality questioned". Politiko Central Luzon. May 9, 2024. Archived from the original on May 11, 2024. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  56. ^ a b Tulad, Victoria (May 22, 2024). "Legarda to Guo: Convince us you're Filipino". ABS-CBN. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  57. ^ Cayabyab, Marc Jayson (June 27, 2024). "Alice Guo's birth certificate faces cancellation, citizenship in limbo". Philstar.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2004.
  58. ^ Tulad, Victoria (May 8, 2024). "Hontiveros questions nationality of Bamban mayor linked to POGOs". ABS-CBN. Archived from the original on June 17, 2024. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  59. ^ Abarca, Charie (July 10, 2024). "Gatchalian: Alice Guo not homeschooled; we attended same school". INQUIRER.net. Archived from the original on July 10, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  60. ^ a b Cua, Aric John Sy; Cueto, Francis Earl; Valente, Catherine S. (July 13, 2024). "Guo's elementary classmate: She didn't speak Filipino or English". The Manila Times. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  61. ^ Cator, Currie (May 16, 2024). "Filipinos Poke Fun at Bamban Mayor Alice Guo". Esquire PH. Archived from the original on May 25, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  62. ^ Tulfo, Patrick (May 14, 2024). "Filipinos Poke Fun at Bamban Mayor Alice Guo". Saksi Ngayon. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  63. ^ a b c Perez, Arra (May 14, 2024). "Tarlac mayor Alice Guo's COC: 'I am a Filipino citizen'". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on June 21, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  64. ^ Boledo, Jairo (May 16, 2024). "Solicitor General launches probe into Bamban Mayor Alice Guo". Rappler. Archived from the original on June 29, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  65. ^ Cruz, Maricel (May 21, 2024). "Mayor Guo insists: I am a Filipino". Manila Standard. Archived from the original on May 31, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  66. ^ Manabat, Johnson (August 6, 2024). "Comelec approves misrepresentation complaint against Guo". ABS-CBN. Archived from the original on August 6, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  67. ^ Cheng, Willard (October 28, 2024). "Comelec files poll rap vs Guo before Tarlac court". ABS-CBN. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  68. ^ Felipe, Cecille Suerte (June 6, 2024). "Guo declares P367 million assets, P189 million liabilities". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  69. ^ Ramos-Araneta, Macon (July 13, 2024). "Billions deposited into Guo accounts by Chinese benefactors–Gatchalian". Manila Standard. Archived from the original on July 12, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  70. ^ "Let It Go: Alice Guo's Bank Accounts, Properties Frozen By CA". Politiko. July 11, 2024. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  71. ^ Ramos, Marlon (July 13, 2024). "Gatchalian: 36 Alice Guo accounts financed illegal Pogo". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  72. ^ a b "CA freezes assets of Alice Guo, others in illegal POGOs". ABS-CBN. July 11, 2024. Archived from the original on July 11, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  73. ^ a b Cabrera, Romina (May 22, 2024). "Guo admits owning helicopter, not luxury car". Philippine Star. Archived from the original on May 28, 2024. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  74. ^ a b "EXCLUSIVE: 'Simpleng mamamayan'? Bamban Mayor Alice Guo owns over 12 vehicles". Rappler. May 22, 2024. Archived from the original on July 9, 2024. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  75. ^ a b "Bamban Mayor Alice Guo owns 16 vehicles - Hontiveros". ABS-CBN News. May 23, 2024. Archived from the original on May 26, 2024. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  76. ^ Cabrera, Romina (May 24, 2024). "Guo has 16 vehicles registered in her name". Philippine Star. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  77. ^ Abanto, Rowegie (May 22, 2024). "Senator says Guo's live-in partner runs POGO; mayor says she has no boyfriend". ABS-CBN. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  78. ^ Abarca, Charie (September 9, 2024). "Alice Guo denies owning Alisel Aquafarm, relationship with Sual mayor". INQUIRER.net. Archived from the original on September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  79. ^ Cruz, James Patrick (September 8, 2024). "FAST FACTS: Who is Sual Mayor Dong Calugay of Pangasinan?". Rappler. Archived from the original on September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  80. ^ Bordey, Hana (September 17, 2024). "'Kaibigan lang': Sual mayor Calugay denies romantic relationship with Alice Guo". GMA Integrated News. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  81. ^ Abarca, Charie (September 17, 2024). "More firms tied to Alice Guo, Mayor Calugay unveiled in Senate probe". INQUIRER.net. Archived from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  82. ^ Magsambol, Bonz (September 17, 2024). "Sual Mayor Dong Calugay's assistant helped Alice Guo get counter affidavit notarized". Rappler. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  83. ^ a b Relativo, James (May 17, 2024). "Marcos nais imbestigahan Alice Guo whom he 'does not know'" [Marcos wants to investiage 'hindi kilalang' Alice Guo]. Pilipino Star Ngayon (in Filipino). Philippine Star. Archived from the original on July 9, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  84. ^ Ratcliffe, Rebecca; Ramos, Guill (August 4, 2024). "Cognac, tortoises and a pink-striped helicopter: inside the mystery of Alice Guo, the missing Philippines mayor". The Observer. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  85. ^ "Ex-Bamban mayor who endorsed Guo speaks up: 'Hindi kami masyadong close'". ABS-CBN. September 11, 2024. Archived from the original on September 11, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  86. ^ a b c "2022 ELECTION RESULTS: Bamban, Tarlac". PHVOTE. Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  87. ^ Panti, LLanesca (June 3, 2024). "Ombudsman suspends Bamban Mayor Alice Guo". GMA Integrated News. Archived from the original on June 25, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  88. ^ Lalu, Gabriel (June 3, 2024). "Alice Guo ordered suspended as mayor of Bamban, Tarlac". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on June 24, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  89. ^ Argosino, Faith (June 23, 2024). "Bamban Mayor Alice Guo removed from NPC as member". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on July 9, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  90. ^ Pulta, Benjamin (July 29, 2024). "SolGen asks court to oust Alice Guo from mayoralty post". Philippine News Agency. Archived from the original on July 29, 2024. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  91. ^ "Ombudsman orders dismissal of Bamban Mayor Alice Guo". ABS-CBN. August 13, 2024. Archived from the original on August 13, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  92. ^ "DILG: Municipal councilor to serve as acting Bamban mayor". GMA Integrated News. August 14, 2024. Archived from the original on August 14, 2024. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  93. ^ Sarao, Zacarian (October 4, 2024). "Alice Guo to run for mayor in 2025 polls – legal counsel". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  94. ^ Abanto, Rowegie (October 8, 2024). "Alice Guo says will no longer seek reelection as Bamban mayor". ABS-CBN . Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  95. ^ Laqui, Ian (July 31, 2024). "Government vs Guo: List of legal hurdles, cases against the Bamban mayor". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on August 19, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  96. ^ a b c Manabat, Joann (March 26, 2024). "Bamban mayor linked to raided POGO in Tarlac". Rappler. Archived from the original on May 27, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  97. ^ a b c Ramos, Marlon (May 8, 2024). "Senators probe Tarlac Pogo for 'spy ops'; mayor grilled". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on May 11, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  98. ^ a b Malig, Jun (February 2, 2023). "CIDG raids Pogo firm in Tarlac; rounds up 850 foreign, Filipino employees". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on May 9, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  99. ^ Sun, David (May 23, 2024). "Vast and tangled web: S'pore's largest case of money laundering". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on June 27, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  100. ^ Tan, Christine (May 27, 2024). "Philippine Senate probes mayor linked to couple in Singapore's $3b money laundering case". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on June 29, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  101. ^ de Guzman, Victor (February 2, 2023). "Bamban POGO raided by CIDG". Tarlakenyo. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  102. ^ Tupas, Emmanuel (March 14, 2024). "875 held in Tarlac POGO hub raid". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on June 24, 2024. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  103. ^ Abarca, Charie (May 7, 2024). "Bamban mayor denies ties to raided Pogo firm in Tarlac". Inquirer.net. Archived from the original on May 19, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  104. ^ a b c Ramos, Marlon (May 9, 2024). "Hontiveros won't let go of Bamban mayor over ties to Pogo". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  105. ^ a b Ginto, Joel (May 17, 2024). "Why is this small town mayor accused of being a Chinese spy?". BBC News. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  106. ^ "[EXCLUSIVE] Guo denies being a Chinese spy: 'I am a Filipino, I love my country'". ABS-CBN. May 20, 2024. Archived from the original on July 3, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  107. ^ Ismael, Javier (May 23, 2024). "Those who doubt Guo's citizenship should prove she is not Filipino — Escudero". The Manila Times. Archived from the original on May 31, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  108. ^ a b Cervantes, Filane Mikee (May 19, 2024). "Photos with Guo prove nothing". Philippine News Agency. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  109. ^ "DILG urges Ombudsman to suspend Bamban mayor". ABS-CBN. May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  110. ^ Oliquino, Edjen (May 19, 2024). "No DILG suspension plea on Guo — Martires". Daily Tribune (Philippines). Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  111. ^ "Ombudsman suggests DILG file a complaint against Guo". GMA Integrated News. May 19, 2024. Archived from the original on June 1, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  112. ^ "Tarlac execs defend Bamban mayor". Philippine Daily Inquirer. May 22, 2024. Archived from the original on June 27, 2024. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  113. ^ Panti, Llanescca (May 29, 2024). "Senator Gatchalian: NPC should expel Alice Guo". GMA News. Archived from the original on May 30, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  114. ^ Mateo, Janvic (May 30, 2024). "Mayor Guo wants mom to come out". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on May 30, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  115. ^ Bolledo, Jairo (June 1, 2024). "DILG files criminal complaint vs Bamban Mayor Alice Guo over illegal POGO". Rappler. Archived from the original on June 25, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  116. ^ Bolledo, Jairo (June 21, 2024). "Alice Guo, 13 others face criminal complaint over 'ties' to illegal POGO". Rappler. Archived from the original on July 6, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  117. ^ Lam, Lydia. "Couple with S$325 million in assets seized in billion-dollar money laundering case denied bail". CNA. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  118. ^ "Hontiveros flags Bamban Mayor Alice Guo's 'ties' to Singapore criminals". Philstar.com. Archived from the original on July 9, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  119. ^ Sarao, Zacarian (May 22, 2024). "Mayor Guo admits she's unaware of business partners' criminal records". INQUIRER.net. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  120. ^ Chua, Nadine (April 30, 2024). "$3b money laundering case: Fifth man gets 15 months' jail, surrenders $118m in assets to state". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on July 9, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  121. ^ Oliquino, Edjen (May 18, 2024). "House wants parallel probe of Guo". Daily Tribune. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  122. ^ "DILG recommends stripping Alice Guo of authority over Bamban police". ABS-CBN. May 20, 2024. Archived from the original on June 2, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  123. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Bamban mayor Guo says she won't resign, will seek reelection". ABS-CBN. May 20, 2024. Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  124. ^ Bajo, Anna Felicia (May 16, 2024). "Who is Alice Guo? No Tarlac politician knows her, says Marcos". GMA News. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  125. ^ Aurelio, Julie (May 18, 2024). "Guo makes her photos (with Marcos) do the talking". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  126. ^ Serguina, Mariel (May 27, 2024). "Ang See decries Senate focus on Guo; Hontiveros defends probe". GMA Integrated News. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  127. ^ Pedrajas, Joseph (May 27, 2024). "Teresita Ang-See hits Senate probe vs Mayor Guo". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on May 27, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  128. ^ Bordey, Hana (July 10, 2024). "Senate panel subpoenas Alice Guo, family members". GMA Integrated News. Archived from the original on July 9, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  129. ^ "Hontiveros orders subpoena vs Alice Guo". Senate of the Philippines. June 26, 2024. Archived from the original on July 10, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  130. ^ Magsambol, Bonz (July 10, 2024). "Senate panel cites Alice Guo in contempt over absence at POGO probe". Rappler. Archived from the original on July 10, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  131. ^ "Senate issues arrest orders for Alice Guo, others for contempt". ABS-CBN. July 13, 2024. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  132. ^ "Info shows Alice Guo still in the Philippines —DOJ". GMA News. August 1, 2024. Archived from the original on August 1, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  133. ^ "Tax evasion complaint filed against Guo". ABS-CBN. August 14, 2024. Archived from the original on August 14, 2024. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  134. ^ "Money laundering suit filed vs Alice Guo, Cassandra Ong, 22 others". Rappler. August 30, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  135. ^ "Tarlac court issues arrest warrant vs Guo over graft charges". The Philippine Star. September 5, 2024. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  136. ^ Bordey, Hana (September 9, 2024). "Alice Guo cited in contempt for 2nd time by Senate panel". GMA News. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  137. ^ Ager, Maila (September 9, 2024). "Alice Guo cited for contempt anew at Senate hearing". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  138. ^ "Alice Guo paid Bamban POGO's electric bills even when she was mayor". GMA News. September 9, 2024. Archived from the original on October 4, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  139. ^ Casilao, Joahna Lei (September 18, 2024). "Human trafficking raps filed vs. Alice Guo". GMA Integrated News. Archived from the original on September 23, 2024. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  140. ^ "House QuadCom cites Alice Guo in contempt". GMA News. September 19, 2024. Archived from the original on September 19, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  141. ^ "NBI files falsification, perjury raps vs Alice Guo, notary public". GMA News. October 3, 2024. Archived from the original on October 4, 2024. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  142. ^ Reyes, Ronald (June 7, 2024). "'Chinese spy' tagged Philippine mayor appeals suspension". UCA News. Archived from the original on June 17, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  143. ^ She Zhijiang: Discarded Chinese spy or criminal mastermind?. 101 East. Al Jazeera English. September 26, 2024. Archived from the original on September 30, 2024. Retrieved September 30, 2024 – via YouTube.
  144. ^ Mateo, Janvic (September 28, 2024). "Detained Chinese 'spy' tags Alice Guo as asset". Philstar.com. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  145. ^ Buan, Lian (September 27, 2024). "Alice Guo riled up by report tagging her as Chinese spy: 'It's so unfair!'". Rappler. Archived from the original on October 4, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  146. ^ Robles, Raissa (October 1, 2024). "Alarm in Philippines as new evidence links Alice Guo to Chinese espionage". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on October 4, 2024. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  147. ^ Abarca, Charie (October 8, 2024). "Alice Guo confirmed as spy by She Zhijang's ex-cellmate". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  148. ^ Bordey, Hana (October 8, 2024). "'Alice Guo's 2022 campaign was arranged by Chinese state security'". GMA News Online. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  149. ^ Abarca, Charie (November 26, 2024). "Is Alice Guo really a spy? NICA labels her an 'agent of influence'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  150. ^ "Guo has left Philippines, says Hontiveros". ABS-CBN. August 19, 2024. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  151. ^ "PAOCC: Alice Guo arrived in Indonesia on Aug. 18, 2024". GMA News. August 20, 2024. Archived from the original on October 4, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  152. ^ Casilao, Joahna Lei (June 25, 2024). "Immigration lookout bulletin issued vs. Guo, 17 others — DOJ". GMA Integrated News. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  153. ^ "Notary insists he saw Alice Guo on Aug. 14 amid reported escape". ABS-CBN. August 20, 2024. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  154. ^ Casilao, Joahna Lei (August 27, 2024). "Lawyer admits Alice Guo did not personally swear her counter-affidavit". GMA Integrated News. Archived from the original on October 4, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  155. ^ Bolledo, Jairo (September 18, 2024). "Alice Guo's signature did not match what was in notarized affidavit – NBI". Rappler. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  156. ^ "BI: Alice Guo flew to Malaysia, Singapore". Philippine Star. August 20, 2024. Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  157. ^ "Shiela Guo confirms leaving PH with Alice, Wesley via boats". GMA News. August 27, 2024. Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  158. ^ "Guo says someone 'initiated' her escape, expresses 'regret'". ABS-CBN. September 9, 2024. Archived from the original on October 4, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  159. ^ "Bersamin orders cancellation of Alice Guo's PH passport". GMA News. August 20, 2024. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  160. ^ Villaruel, Jauhn Etienne (August 21, 2024). "How Indonesian authorities busted Alice Guo's sister, alleged cohort". ABS-CBN. Archived from the original on August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  161. ^ Mendoza, John Eric (August 22, 2024). "Sheila Guo, Cassandra Ong back in PH after arrest in Indonesia". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on October 4, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  162. ^ Abarca, Charie (August 27, 2024). "Alice Guo now in Jakarta, Indonesia – BI". INQUIRER.net. Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  163. ^ Laqui, Ian. "Alice Guo arrested in Indonesia — DOJ, PAOCC". Philstar. Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  164. ^ Villaruel, Jauhn Etienne (September 5, 2024). "Alice Guo tells PH authorities why she fled". ABS-CBN. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  165. ^ Santos, Jamil (September 7, 2024). "Topacio: Abalos' borrowing of plane to fetch Alice Guo possibly violates anti-graft law". GMA Integrated News. Archived from the original on September 8, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  166. ^ Abanto, Rowegie (September 6, 2024). "Alice Guo back in PH after arrest in Indonesia". ABS-CBN. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  167. ^ Boledo, Jairo (September 6, 2024). "Alice Guo doesn't post bail for graft charges, stays with PNP". Rappler. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  168. ^ "Alice Guo posts bail for graft charges, but will remain detained". GMA Integrated News. September 20, 2024. Archived from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  169. ^ Bordey, Hana (September 9, 2024). "Alice Guo to remain in PNP custody until Tarlac court issues resolved - Risa". GMA News. Archived from the original on September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  170. ^ Bolledo, Jairo (September 13, 2024). "Alice Guo's graft case transferred from Tarlac to Valenzuela court". Rappler. Archived from the original on October 4, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  171. ^ "SC orders transfer of Guo trafficking cases from Capas to Pasig". Rappler. September 15, 2024. Archived from the original on September 15, 2024. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  172. ^ "Valenzuela court resets Alice Guo arraignment to Sept. 30". ABS-CBN News. September 20, 2024. Archived from the original on October 4, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  173. ^ Argosino, Faith (September 23, 2024). "Alice Guo diagnosed with suspected lung infection, says PNP". INQUIRER.net. Archived from the original on October 4, 2024. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  174. ^ a b Cepeda, Mara (September 6, 2024). "Outrage in Philippines over officials' photos with fugitive ex-mayor Alice Guo". The Straits Times. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  175. ^ a b Abarca, Charie (September 6, 2024). "Hontiveros slams gov't officials posing for photos with Alice Guo". INQUIRER.net. Archived from the original on September 8, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  176. ^ Lazaro, Jacob; Aurelio, Julie M. (September 7, 2024). "Alice Guo 'celebrity' selfies spark outrage". Inquirer News. Manila, Philippines: INQUIRER.net. Archived from the original on October 4, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  177. ^ "NBI, PNP nag-sorry sa viral selfie kay Alice Guo". Abante (in Filipino). September 6, 2024. Archived from the original on September 8, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  178. ^ "BI official says sorry for Immigration personnel selfie with Alice Guo". GMA News. September 8, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  179. ^ "Marcos says Alice Guo selfies with officials 'part of new culture'". ABS-CBN. September 6, 2024. Archived from the original on October 4, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  180. ^ Gutierrez, Pia; Abanto, Rowegie (September 9, 2024). "Marcos approves Immigration chief's dismissal: Palace". ABS-CBN. Archived from the original on September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  181. ^ a b c d Chi, Cristina (August 18, 2024). "Senator bares papers suggesting Alice Guo was born in China". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 6, 2024.