Mayor Alice Guo’s turn on the political spotlight comes as the sea row between Manila and Beijing intensifies.
Published May 18, 2024
A sleepy town in the Philippines has been thrust into the national spotlight after its mayor was accused of being a Chinese agent.
Bamban is a nondescript town in the country’s rice-growing flood plains north of the capital, Manila.
Its mayor, Alice Guo is the picture of a young, on-the-go public servant.
Bespectacled, with long black hair and a ready smile, the 35-year-old speaks Tagalog with no foreign accent and loves to wear pink in public.
Nothing about her life – she claims she grew up on a pig farm – seemed to raise alarm bells, until she was called to testify before a Senate hearing earlier this month.
Law enforcers had discovered that an online casino – known locally as a Pogo – in her town was really a front for a scam centre.
Authorities raided the facility last March and rescued close to 700 workers, including 202 Chinese nationals and 73 other foreigners who were forced to pose as online lovers.
Pogo stands for Philippine Offshore Gambling Operator whose clients include mainland Chinese people.
These businesses flourished during the tenure of Rodrigo Duterte, whose presidency, which ended in 2022, was marked by close ties to China.
But under current president Ferdinand Marcos, Pogos have come under close scrutiny after it was discovered that some of them have been used as fronts for human trafficking and online scam operations.
Ms Guo’s case is unfolding as tensions between Manila and Beijing over reefs and outcrops in the resource-rich South China Sea heat up.
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SOURCE: www.bbc.com
RELATED: DILG recommends preventive suspension vs Bamban Mayor Alice Guo
Published May 18, 2024
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Internal and Local Government (DILG) recommended a preventive suspension against controversial Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo following unanswered questions regarding her personal background and alleged illegal activities.
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. issued a statement on Saturday regarding the investigation into Guo’s alleged links to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) activities, human trafficking and surveillance.
“The DILG recommended to the Ombudsman the issuance of a preventive suspension against Mayor Guo, to prevent any influence on the continuing investigations of our and other agencies,” he said in a statement.
“The DILG does not have the power to directly suspend or dismiss local officials. Hence, the DILG defers to the Ombudsman regarding any sanctions that may be imposed against Guo, in line with its disciplinary authority over elective officials of local governments under Section 21 of Republic Act No. 6770.”
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SOURCE: www.philstar.com
RELATED: DILG urges Ombudsman to suspend Alice Guo
“There are troubling findings of serious illegal acts which may have severe legal implications,” DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos said regarding the department’s recommendation to suspend Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo. GMA Integrated News
Published May 18, 2024
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has recommended to the Ombudsman the preventive suspension of Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, Secretary Benhur Abalos said on Friday.
In a statement, Abalos said the DILG created a task force last April 5 to look into Guo’s alleged link to illegal activities of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in her town.
He said the task force, headed by Atty. Benjamin Zabala of DILG’s Internal Audit Service, has submitted its report, and this in turn was submitted to the Ombudsman on Friday.
“Based on the report, there are troubling findings of serious illegal acts which may have severe legal implications,” the DILG secretary said.
“The DILG recommended to the Ombudsman the issuance of a preventive suspension against Mayor Guo, to prevent any influence on the continuing investigations of our and other agencies,” Abalos said, adding that the department “does not have the power to directly suspend or dismiss local officials.”
“The DILG will continue to cooperate with the Ombudsman and other investigative bodies on this important issue, united in our shared mission of protecting our local institutions and furthering public interest,” he added.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr on Thursday said Guo had been under investigation for some time.
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SOURCE: www.gmanetwork.com
