Who is Alice Guo? Ex-Mayor deported to Philippines over alleged criminal syndicate ties

Former Philippine mayor Alice Guo, accused of having ties to Chinese criminal syndicates and being involved in money laundering, arrived in Manila on Friday after being deported from Indonesia. Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping, a Chinese national, was arrested on Tuesday in Tangerang, near the Indonesian capital Jakarta.
Her case has captivated the Philippines, which is grappling with rising suspicions of Chinese activities amid growing tensions in the South China Sea, where both nations have overlapping territorial claims.

Who is Alice Guo?
Guo served as mayor of Bamban, a town north of Manila, after running as a Philippine citizen in the 2022 elections. However, Philippine authorities later discovered that her fingerprints matched those of Guo Hua Ping, a Chinese national. This revelation prompted a congressional investigation in May, shortly after authorities raided a gambling hub partially owned by Guo. The raid uncovered online scams and revealed hundreds of trafficked workers, mostly foreigners, sparking a human trafficking case against her.

The Senate cited Guo in contempt after she refused to attend hearings, claiming emotional distress from prior appearances. In August, she was removed from office for her alleged involvement in illegal gaming activities.
Criminal allegations
In addition to her involvement in illegal gambling, Guo is also facing multiple money laundering charges. The investigation revealed that her gambling hub catered to offshore Chinese clients, contributing to her removal from office for "grave misconduct." The Philippine anti-crime commission filed human trafficking complaints against Guo following the raid on her facility.

Despite the accusations, Guo maintains her innocence, insisting she is a natural-born Filipino and claiming that the charges are politically motivated.
How did Alice Guo escape the Philippines?
In July, Guo fled the country using her Philippine passport, traveling to Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. According to her alleged accomplice Sheila Guo, they fled the Philippines by boat.
Capture in Indonesia
Guo was arrested in Indonesia by Interpol officers in Tangerang. Indonesian immigration authorities revealed that she