Cute-Looking Ordinary Female Mayor Alice Guo
'Chinese Spy Allegation' Raised...Spy Suspicion
Land and Helicopter Owned Behind City Hall in 'Romance Scam' Den
Unable to Properly Answer Origin and Career...Suspension Recommended
A mayor of a small city in the Philippines has attracted attention amid allegations of being a 'Chinese spy.' On the 19th (local time), the British BBC reported, "Alice Guo, the mayor of Bamban City on the northern Luzon Island of the Philippines, which is in conflict with China over South China Sea territorial claims, has been suspected of being a Chinese spy."
Alice Guo, Mayor of Bamban City, Philippines. [Image source=Captured from Mayor Alice Guo's Facebook]
Mayor Guo was not a well-known figure, serving as the mayor of Bamban City, an ordinary rural small town. However, she recently gained nationwide attention when authorities cracked down on an online casino located just behind the mayor's office. The crackdown revealed that the establishment was actually a den of 'romance scam' crimes, where hundreds of people were confined and approached by the opposite sex to extort money. Authorities reported rescuing about 700 people held captive there, including 202 Chinese nationals and 73 other foreigners.
However, controversy erupted when it was revealed that Mayor Guo owned half of the land where the problematic establishment was located, as well as a helicopter. Moreover, suspicions arose that her true nationality might be Chinese, as her background was not properly verified. According to the Philippine Commission on Elections, Mayor Guo first registered as a voter in Bamban City in 2021 and ran for mayor the following year, winning immediately.
In response, the Senate summoned her for a hearing earlier this month to inquire about her background. She claimed, "My birth was registered with local authorities only when I turned 17," and said she was homeschooled on a pig farm. However, she failed to provide specific answers to further questions about her background or education.
One senator questioned whether Mayor Guo was an asset of China, criticizing her vague responses about her career and background. Senator Risa Ontiveros asked, "Is Mayor Guo, and others with such mysterious backgrounds, working as assets for China? Have they been planted in our country to influence Philippine politics?" Despite this, Mayor Guo has remained tight-lipped and avoided contact with the media.
According to local broadcasts, the Philippine Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) stated that serious illegal activities were found involving her and recommended suspending her from office. The Commission on Elections and the Department of Justice have also launched investigations and said that if illegal activities are confirmed, she could be removed from her position. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos also stated on the 16th, "No one knows her," and added, "We are investigating her origins together with the immigration office."
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