Mayor on the Run, The Chase for a Chinese Spy Who Hid Behind Online Casinos

Alice Guo, a former mayor in the Philippines, was arrested in Indonesia after weeks on the run, following accusations of spying for China and protecting illegal online casinos that were fronts for scam centers and human trafficking in her town, Bamban. Philippine authorities pursued her across multiple countries after she disappeared in July. Investigators linked her to a Chinese national, Guo Hua Ping, fueling suspicions that she was a Chinese spy. The case has drawn significant public outrage and international attention, particularly as it unfolds amid ongoing tensions between the Philippines and China over the South China Sea.

The scandal erupted when a raid in Bamban uncovered a massive scam operation disguised as Philippine Online Gaming Operations (Pogos), leading to the rescue of nearly 700 workers, including Chinese nationals and other foreigners, who were forced to participate in scams. Guo’s inability to detect the scam center near her office, along with her evasive responses about her background, raised further suspicions. Despite her denials, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has been cracking down on Pogo-linked crimes, condemned the corruption her case exposed in the Philippine justice system, emphasising that those who try to evade justice will be held accountable.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0mnyrm8739o