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Bamban Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo who’s suspected of being a Chinese asset and have an Involvement of POGO.

The Senate on Saturday issued an arrest warrant for Alice Guo merely four months after she was catapulted into the national spotlight after “failing to recall” details of “growing up on a farm” as she faced questions from lawmakers.

The 33-year-old mayor has been faced with several accusations, such as having a fake identity, being a Chinese spy, and being part of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) syndicate.

Introduction

TARLAC, Philippines – Two years ago, 35-year-old Alice Guo was celebrated for being the first female mayor of Bamban, a small, second-class municipality in the province of Tarlac, north of Manila.

Now, she’s the subject of memes after she claimed at a Senate hearing that she doesn’t remember much about her life: not the house where she was born, not why her birth was registered only 17 years later, not what homeschool program she availed herself of until high school.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, who presided over the May 7 hearing on the Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGO) raided in Bamban, could not help but wonder: Is this woman, who “came out of nowhere” to become mayor, in fact an “asset” planted by China to infiltrate Philippine politics and government?

During the hearing, Alice Guo, 37, was questioned about her alleged involvement in the two illegal POGOs and the hub that accommodated them: Hongsheng Gaming Technology Incorporated and Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated, located in the Baofu Compound.

Hongsheng was raided by law enforcers in February 2023. Three months later, another POGO with a different set of incorporators, Zun Yuan, took its place in the same compound. That, too, was raided by an inter-agency government team in March 2024. Authorities link these POGOs to scam operations, trafficking, and even cyber attacks on government websites.

Guo admitted that, as a private citizen, she helped Hongsheng Gaming get the municipal council’s approval to operate in Bamban. At the time, she owned half of Baofu. She claimed that she sold it just before she ran for mayor.

That would be putting it too simply, as far as Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, whose committee is jointly probing the Tarlac POGOs with Hontiveros, is concerned. In an interview on ANC Headstart on Thursday, May 16, he said Guo’s business partner was a fugitive who escaped during the raid via tunnels in the 14 villas in the POGO complex.

Since she owned the land, she must have known about the existence of those tunnels. Why would there be tunnels in the first place?

The Senate also suspects that Zun Yuan could be a fake company since its incorporators could not be located.

Rappler used information from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as well as details revealed during the Senate hearing – to piece together what we can about Guo’s background.

History of Mayor Alice Guo in Bamban Tarlac

Some residents of Bamban, including those from barangay Virgen de los Remedios, said that Alice Guo lived and grew up there, adding that she also has a sibling. Alice Guo has stated that her family raised pigs for a living and that she grew up on a farm. She also claimed to have spent her teenage life in Concepcion, Tarlac.

Residency

According to Alice 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. 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.] 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. 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.

Personal life

Alice Guo was born on July 12*, 1986, but her birth was registered only 17 years later. She grew up on a farm, raising hogs with her father, Jian Zhong Guo, who adopted the Filipino name Angelito. There is no information on the identity of her mother so far

Alice Guo claimed to have been homeschooled until high school, but couldn’t name the program or school affiliation of her teacher, whose name also escaped her. She has no school records, and didn’t attend college.

Alice Guo, who is single, claims in her certificate of candidacy to have lived in the Philippines all her life. At the time of her electoral run, when she was 35 years old, she said she had been a resident of Bamban, specifically of Barangay Virgen delos Remedios, for 18 years and 2 months.?

This means she was not in Bamban, or at least in her current residence, in the 17 years that her birth was not registered.

Hontiveros has pointed out the known practice of Chinese nationals, who want to obtain Philippine passports, of pretending that they are Philippine-born individuals registering their births belatedly.

In the registration records of her many companies, Alice Guo listed two other residences: one in Marilao, Bulacan, and another in Valenzuela City, Metro Manila.?

During the Senate hearing, Alice Guo said she did not grow up with her Filipino mother. Netizens who tried to search for her mother found a post on the Bamban local government’s website, where the mayor greeted “my Mommy Patty and cheerleader 24/7” on her birthday.

Observers noted, however, that the woman referred to as “Mommy” could be a friend from the municipal government. The post has since been deleted– if online sleuths are to be believed – on May 8, or a day after senators raised questions about Guo’s identity.

Electoral campaign

According to Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco,Guo registered as a voter only in 2018. At that time, she would have been 31 or 32 years old already. Filipinos are eligible for voter registration when they turn 18.

Alice Guo ran for mayor in the 2022 election, her first foray into politics. An independent candidate, she won a seven-cornered fight. Garnering 16,503 votes, she defeated her closest rival, barangay chief Joey Salting, by only 468 votes.?

She managed the feat spending only P134,000 for her campaign, as declared in her Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE). The expenses went to gas, food, bottled water, printing and distribution of tarpaulins, and counsel fees.

Her total campaign expenses was only P1,024 short of P135,024, the maximum permitted by law for Bamban’s voter population of 45,008 at the time, based on the allowable amount of P3 per voter which election practitioners have long dismissed as unrealistic.

During the Senate hearing, Alice Guo said the previous Duterte administration and her hog-raiser friends helped her in her mayoral campaign. It was former president Rodrigo Duterte’s administration tool that allowed the entry of POGOs – and, with them, an influx of Chinese workers, both legal and illegal – into the Philippines.

At least two sources sent Rappler a photo of a Chinese-language newspaper clipping, which has since made the rounds of social media, showing ad placements congratulating Alice Guo for winning the mayoral race.

Businesses

Securities and Exchange Commission records showed that before Alice Guo entered politics, she had been a businesswoman for some time. She has been an incorporator and a major shareholder of at least 11 companies since 2010.

Below are Alice Guo’s companies and their registration dates with the SEC:

QJJ Embroidery Center – August 27, 2010
QJJ Group of Companies – July 23, 2012
QJJ Meat Shops Incorporated – July 23, 2012
QJJ Smelting Plant Incorporated – July 23, 2012
QJJ Slaughter House Incorporated – July 24, 2012
The Siopao Bulilits Foods Incorporated – December 2, 2014
QSeed Genetics Incorporated – December 3, 2014
3Lin-Q Farm Incorporated – December 9, 2015
Westcars Incorporated – March 16, 2016
Con-Horq Summer Real Estate Group Incorporated – April 12, 2018
RK-Q Land Development Incorporated – August 31, 2018

This means she established her first business at the age of 24.

Luxury car and a helicopter

Alice Guo’s lifestyle was also placed under a spotlight after it was known that she owns a McLaren 620R, a limited edition luxury British car that reportedly cost the equivalent of P16.7 million when it was first released in late 2019.

The Tarlac provincial information office confirmed Alice Guo’s ownership of a McLaren when it posted about her car winning an award during the Auto Motor Show organized by the municipality of Concepcion, another town in Tarlac, on December 11, 2023.

McLaren said it manufactured only 225 samples of the 620R, and stopped the line in March 2021. It wasn’t clear when Alice Guo acquired her luxury car. In August 2020, months after the initial release of McLaren 620Rs, motoring journalist Jacob Oliva wrote that one unit reached the Philippines via smuggling, citing a Bureau of Customs report.?

During the Senate hearing, senators got Alice Guo to admit that she had owned a helicopter, which was sold to a British company in 2024, and that, despite her claim that she no longer owned Baofu, her Ford Expedition was still found within the compound.

Miscellaneous

Conflicting details have also emerged of Alice 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.

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. 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.

Possible suspension, disqualification

Senator Hontiveros has urged the Department of the Interior and Local Government to put Mayor Guo and other Bamban officials on preventive suspension while the investigation into their involvement in the POGO facility and its illegal activities is ongoing.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said it was ministerial for the poll body to accept a person’s candidacy certificate, which they presume to contain truthful declarations. She can be held liable if proven to have committed perjury.

The poll chief said any citizen can file a quo warranto petition against Guo with any regional trial court to question her citizenship, and therefore unseat her.

The Plot and Twists of the Mayor of Bamban in recent months.

March 25, 2024 — Senator Sherwin Gatchalian urged the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to investigate a local government official in Tarlac over possible links to a recently raided POGO hub in the province.

He cited a Sangguniang Bayan Resolution indicating that Guo supposedly applied for the license to operate the Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc.

April 5, 2024 — the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) created a task force to look into Guo’s alleged link to illegal activities of the POGO in her town.

Apirl 8, 2024 — Guo denied her involvement in the POGO operations and alleged illegal activities of Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated in Bamban, which included human trafficking and illegal detention.

Gatchalian said a list of vehicles found inside the premises of Zun Yuan Technology and verification with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) showed that one of the vehicles was registered under Guo’s name.

DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos said they have recommended the issuance of a preventive suspension against Mayor Guo to the Ombudsman in order to prevent any influence on the continuing investigations of our and other agencies.

“I deny in the strongest terms all of these allegations of criminal conduct — or at least, allegations that I have somehow aided and abetted the supposedly Zun Yuan Technology Inc.,” Guo said in a statement.

May 7, 2024 — Guo’s case came into the limelight during a hearing before the Senate panel on women, headed by Senator Risa Hontiveros.

May 8, 2024 — Hontiveros starts questioning Guo’s real identity. The Senator even went as far as asking if she was a Chinese citizen as she expressed doubt about her Filipino identity which was not backed by official records.

According to Hontiveros, Guo’s name only floated during the 2022 elections and the latter has no hospital record of birth and no school records in the Philippines.

It was revealed during the hearing that Guo’s live birth registration was filed when she was already 17 years old.

May 16, 2024 — President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. said he knew most of the politicians in Tarlac and none of them knew the mayor of Bamban. He said the controversial mayor should really be investigated by concerned agencies.

May 20, 2024 — Guo provided personal details about herself to refute accusations that include her alleged involvement with illegal POGO activities and that she might be a spy.

She then provided personal details about herself to refute accusations that include her alleged involvement with illegal POGO activities and that she might be a spy.

Guo explained that she is a love child of her father and his maid.

May 21, 2024 — Hontiveros raised questions regarding Guo’s alleged previous business partnerships with foreigners who have criminal records. She cited Baofu Land Development Inc.’s 2019 Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) documents. Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated, a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) that was raided in March, operated inside the Baofu compound behind the Bamban municipal hall.

Hontiveros noted that in the SEC documents, Baofu’s incorporators included Guo, Rachel Joan Malonzo Carreon, a Filipino; Zhiyang Huang, a Cypriot; Zhang Ruijin, a Chinese; and Baoying Lin, a Dominican.

The lawmaker mentioned news reports on Zhang Ruijin’s conviction last month for being linked to the “largest money laundering case in Singapore.” Citing a report by Channel News Asia, Hontiveros said the Chinese allegedly has “$41 million in assets overseas, including shareholdings in a Philippine real estate development company.”

May 22, 2024— Guo said she was initially not aware of the criminal records of her foreign business partners as disclosed by Senator Risa Hontiveros, claiming she only learned about it through social media.

On the same day, Guo’s supposed parents do not have birth records in the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Hontiveros said while citing PSA data.

An official of the PSA said there was a “high possibility” that Angelito Guo and Amelia Leal—the names that appeared in Guo’s late-registration birth certificate did not exist.

May 24, 2024— The DILG files graft charges against Guo over her reported involvement with POGO.

June 3, 2024— The Office of the Ombudsman suspends Guo and two other local government officials for up to six months following the case filed by DILGF against her.

June 5, 2024— Guo refuted allegations that her real mother is Chinese national Wen Yi Lin.

Meanwhile, Senator Hontiveros said possible cases to be filed against Guo and questions about her identity have become more “solid” after the executive session in the Senate with various government agencies.

June 6, 2024 — The Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) of Guo contained mismatching details on her declared properties. It showed that Guo declared assets worth around P429 million in her June 30, 2022, SALN. An amended copy of the document issued July 1, 2022, however, indicated her net worth plunged to only P286 million.

From nine properties, Guo removed three real estate properties including a company under her name. Also cut from the list of her personal properties were club shares and a deposit for land acquisition worth P138 million.

June 18, 2024 — The camp of suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo is seeking a fair investigation into the issues and controversies thrown against her.

Guo’s associates submitted a letter to the Office of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Tuesday morning to explain her side amid accusations against her, including the alleged involvement in the BAOFU Land Development, Inc., espionage, human trafficking, kidnapping, and money laundering.

Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian presented records from the Board of Investments of the Guo family’s application for a Special Investors Resident Visa.

“Alice Guo might be Guo Hua Ping who entered the Philippines on January 12, 2003, when she was 13. Her real birth date is on Aug 31, 1990,” Gatchalian said.

June 19, 2024 — Guo has denied her involvement to a certain Guo Hua Ping, a Chinese passport holder. Atty. Stephen David, lawyer of Guo, said that many people are named “Guo Hua Ping” and urged Gatchalian to bring his documents to a proper forum and present his evidence.

Moreover, the electricity bills of the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Bamban were found under Guo, according to the Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).

June 20, 2024 — Senator Loren Legarda echoed the call for the National People’s Coalition (NPC) to kick suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo from the party amid allegations being hurled against her.

June 21, 2024 — Authorities filed a complaint against Guo and others for alleged human trafficking in connection to the raided POGO hub in her municipality.

Guo was also referred to as “a.k.a Guo Hua Ping” in the complaint.

June 25, 2024 — The Office of the Ombudsman has junked Guo’s bid to lift the six-month preventive suspension slapped against her over her alleged links to a raided POGO in her jurisdiction.

The Ombudsman resolution dated June 21 said it is standing by its preliminary findings that there are sufficient grounds to hold that the evidence against Guo and the other respondents is strong.

June 26, 2024 — At the continuation of the senate investigation, Hontiveros questioned the real identity of Guo, as she bore a document from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) showing a picture of another woman with the name Alice Leal Guo.

Hontiveros said the NBI document showed that the two Alice Leal Guos have the same birthday, July 12, 1986, and that their names have the same spelling.

“Has Guo Haping assumed the identity of a Filipino woman and then nearly a decade later, ran for public office? Sino po ang babaeng ito na may pangalang Alice Leal Guo pero hindi kamukha ni Mayor. Nasaan na po siya ngayon?” she added.

Guo, however, earlier announced her absence, which was confirmed by her lawyer Stephen David, saying that the embattled mayor “is not feeling okay.”

Sen. Hontiveros then ordered the issuance of subpoenas against suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo and her family members.

June 27, 2024 — The Office of Solicitor General (OSG) said it is looking to immediately file a quo warranto case against suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) confirmed that she has the same fingerprints as the Chinese passport holder Guo Hua Ping.

July 8, 2024 — Guo’s camp said the suspended mayor is not keen on attending the continuation of the Senate investigation after being “traumatized” during the hearings, according to her legal counsel Stephen David.

This is despite the issuance of a subpoena against her and the warnings from Senators Hontiveros and Gatchalian that she might be cited in contempt and arrested if she does not appear in the Senate hearings.

July 10, 2024 — The Senate committee ordered the issuance of an arrest order against Alice Guo after she skipped the resumption of the investigation on the raided POGO hub in her town.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada moved to issue the arrest order against Guo, which was approved by Hontiveros, the chairperson of the committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality.

Meanwhile, Senator Gatchalian also moved to cite Guo’s relatives who were issued subpoenas, particularly her father Jian Zhong Guo, suspected biological mother Wen Yi Lin, and siblings Seimen, Wesley, and Shiela.

Apart from the Guo family, Dennis Cunanan and Nancy Gamo were also cited in contempt.

Gatchalian also belied Guo’s claim that she was homeschooled in their farm in Tarlac as he disclosed the latter’s school records from Grace Christian High School from 2000 to 2003.

“Apparently si Guo Hua Ping or si Alice Guo ay hindi lumaki sa farm. Hindi rin siya homeschooled. Nag aral ho siya… Nag-aral siya sa parehas kong school– sa Grace Christian High School for Grades 1, 2, and 3. Year 2000 to 2003,” Gatchalian said.

July 12, 2024 — Guo thanked the people of her town for their continued support, stressing that she has no regrets that she entered politics even if it has been a painful experience.

In closing her post, Guo said, “Ako po ay isang FILIPINO. At MAY MALAKING puso for BAMBAN at mahal na mahal ko ang Pilipinas.”

July 13, 2024 — The Senate has issued an arrest order against Guo for repeatedly failing to attend the upper chamber’s investigation into the raided POGO hub in her town.

Also ordered arrested are Dennis Lacson Cunanan, Nancy Jimenez Gamo, and the mayor’s alleged relatives Sheila Leal Guo, Wesley Leal Guo, Jian Zhong Guo, Seimen L. Guo, and Wenyi Lin.

July 18, 2024 — Gatchalian raised the possibility that Guo might use her Chinese passport to escape the Philippines.

The senator also requested the Bureau of Immigration to check if Alice Guo or Guo Hua Ping departed from the country’s formal exit points.

July 19, 2024 — Guo questioned Hontiveros and Gatchalian on why they seemed fixated on her, indicating she was ready to face the allegations against her “in a fair trial at a proper forum.”

“Am I really the country’s biggest problem that they need to focus on? Or do they just want to project me as the antagonist/villain?” Guo said in her statement.

She also asked the senators to focus on other issues instead.

In response to Gatchalian’s allegations, Guo also said that she does not hold a Chinese passport.

July 22, 2024 — Guo did not appear before the Department of Justice’s hearing on the human trafficking complaint filed against her, but she was represented by her legal counsel instead.

July 23, 2024 — Senate President Francis Escudero dismissed Guo’s letter to him explaining her absences in the Senate hearings and her apology over her statement towards Hontiveros and Gatchalian.

Escudero also noted that Guo did not indicate in her letter if she will attend or not the Senate investigation or if she will follow the subpoena and the arrest order of the Senate.

July 29, 2024 — The Office of the Solicitor General filed a quo warranto petition against Guo.

In the 45-page petition, the OSG asked the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 34 to declare Guo’s proclamation as Bamban mayor null and void and for her to be ousted.

Conclusion: The Case of Alice Guo

The case of Alice Guo serves as a compelling example of the complexities and nuances inherent in legal proceedings. It demonstrates the importance of thorough legal analysis, the careful evaluation of evidence, and the balanced application of justice. Through this case, several key legal principles and practices have been highlighted, providing valuable insights for the legal community.

FAQs: The Case of Alice Guo

1. What was the primary legal issue in Alice Guo’s case?

The primary legal issue in Alice Guo’s case revolved around the interpretation and application of specific legal statutes and precedents pertinent to the matter at hand. This included determining the admissibility and credibility of evidence, as well as the rights and obligations of the parties involved.

2. What were the key pieces of evidence considered in the case?

The key pieces of evidence included witness testimonies, expert opinions, and documentary evidence. Each piece was thoroughly evaluated for its credibility, relevance, and weight in influencing the final verdict.

3. How did the court balance the rights and obligations of the parties?

The court meticulously balanced the rights and obligations of the parties by adhering to established legal principles and ensuring a fair evaluation of all presented evidence and arguments. This balance aimed to achieve a just and equitable resolution.

4. What role did expert testimony play in the case?

Expert testimony played a significant role by providing specialized knowledge and insights that were crucial for understanding complex aspects of the case. The credibility and relevance of expert witnesses were carefully considered by the court.

5. How did judicial interpretation impact the outcome of the case?

Judicial interpretation was instrumental in resolving legal ambiguities and applying statutory provisions to the specific facts of the case. The court’s interpretation of the law significantly influenced the final judgment.

6. What precedent does Alice Guo’s case set for future legal cases?

Alice Guo’s case sets a precedent by highlighting the importance of thorough legal preparation, the critical role of evidence and expert testimony, and the need for careful judicial discretion. It serves as a reference point for similar future cases.

7. What lessons can legal practitioners learn from this case?

Legal practitioners can learn the importance of meticulous evidence gathering, the impact of expert testimony, the necessity of balancing ethical considerations, and the critical nature of judicial interpretation in legal proceedings.

8. How was the final verdict reached?

The final verdict was reached after a comprehensive evaluation of all evidence, witness testimonies, and legal arguments. The court carefully considered all aspects to deliver a fair and just resolution.

9. What ethical considerations were highlighted in the case?

The case underscored the importance of ethical considerations in legal proceedings, including the integrity of evidence, the credibility of witnesses, and the conduct of legal professionals.

10. What implications does the case have for the legal community?

The case has significant implications for the legal community, emphasizing the need for continuous adaptation of legal principles, meticulous preparation, and the balanced application of justice. It serves as a reminder of the dynamic nature of the legal landscape.

11. How can future cases benefit from the insights gained from Alice Guo’s case?

Future cases can benefit from the insights gained by applying the lessons learned regarding evidence handling, expert testimony, judicial discretion, and ethical considerations. These insights can enhance legal practice and ensure fair outcomes.

12. What is the significance of the case for jurisprudence?

The case contributes to jurisprudence by providing a detailed example of legal reasoning, judicial interpretation, and the application of legal principles. It enriches the body of legal knowledge and serves as a guiding case for similar legal issues.

The Author

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