Philippines Court Sentences Chinese Woman, Former Mayor, to Life Imprisonment for Human Trafficking
Chinese Woman Implicated in Human Trafficking Scandal in the Philippines
A woman of Chinese descent, who falsely posed as a Filipino citizen, has been convicted by a Philippine court for orchestrating human trafficking operations into the country.
Alice Guo, who formerly served as mayor of Bambam, transformed the town into a hub for organized crime and internet fraud activities during her tenure.
The Pasig City Regional Trial Court handed down a life imprisonment sentence to Guo, along with a fine exceeding $30,000 (PHP 2 million).
In addition, the court mandated the confiscation of all Guo’s assets located in Bambam.
Background of Bambam and Guo’s Rise to Power
Bambam is a municipality situated in the Tarlac province, north of Manila, the capital. Guo assumed office as mayor in 2022.
The true extent of her misdeeds only came to light in 2024 when authorities uncovered the deteriorated state of the municipality under her control.
Investigations were launched into Guo’s background, including verifying her eligibility to hold public office and probing any affiliations she might have had.
Government prosecutors hailed the verdict as a significant victory against illegal human trafficking.
Discovery and Rescue Operation
A raid on facilities operated by Guo resulted in the rescue of over 800 individuals, including both local residents of Bambam and foreign nationals.
Some victims revealed that they were forced to participate in deceptive “pig butchering” investment scams.
An escaped employee disclosed the presence of 36 properties owned by Guo, ranging from office complexes and luxury homes to a large swimming pool.
Documents recovered at the sites listed Guo as the president of the company controlling the land where these buildings were constructed.
Uncovering Guo’s True Identity
Further inquiries revealed that Guo had submitted fraudulent documents and was not a natural-born Filipino.
Evidence showed she was born in China and migrated to the Philippines during her childhood along with her family.
Discrepancies were found in her reported date of birth, which did not correspond with official records.
Fingerprint analysis matched her identity to a Chinese national named Guo Hua Ping.
In 2024, Guo fled the Philippines but was apprehended later that year in Indonesia.
Besides human trafficking, Guo faces multiple ongoing charges including money laundering and corruption.
