The mayor of a small town in the Philippines is drawing attention due to allegations of being a Chinese spy.
According to a BBC report, on May 19th, recent suspicions have arisen that Alice Guo, the mayor of Bamban in northern Luzon, is a Chinese spy.
Previously unknown outside of her rural town of Bamban, Guo gained national attention when authorities raided an online casino situated right behind her office.
The raid uncovered that the facility was a hub for scams, including romance scams that extorted money by manipulating hundreds of victims.
Authorities rescued approximately 700 people held captive there, including 202 Chinese nationals and 73 other foreigners.
Investigations revealed that Guo owns half of the land where the business is located and a helicopter.
Amid this, suspicions arose that Guo’s real nationality might be Chinese as her background has not been fully verified.
According to the Philippine Election Commission, Guo first registered as a voter in Bamban in 2021 and was elected mayor the following year.
When questioned about her background at a Senate hearing in early May, Guo stated that her birth was not registered with local authorities until she turned 17 and that she was homeschooled on her family’s pig farm.
However, she failed to provide answers to additional questions about her background and education.
In response, Senator Risa Hontiveros asked if Guo, who was vague about her background and career, was an asset to China.
Hontiveros asked, “Is Mayor Alice, and others with mysterious backgrounds like her, working as assets for China? Have they been planted in our country to influence Philippine politics?”
President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines also said on May 16th regarding Guo, “No one knows her. We are curious about where she comes from, which is why we are investigating this matter with the immigration bureau.”
Guo has been avoiding contact with the media and keeping quiet since the hearing.
According to local GMA broadcasts, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) of the Philippines has recommended the suspension of her mayoral duties.
On April 5th, the DILG announced this after setting up a task force to investigate Guo’s potential illegal activities and finding serious violations.
The Election Commission and the Department of Justice have also started investigating Guo separately, stating that if illegal activities are confirmed, she could be removed from office.
