The Story of Alice Guo, the Philippine Mayor Who Alleged Chinese Espionage
In 2022, Alice Guo was elected as the new mayor of Bomaban, a town on Luzon, the Philippines largest and most populous island. Despite limited public information about her background, such as her birthplace or education, Guo defeated the Nationalist People’s Coalition candidate. It was clear that this independent candidate with an uncertain past heavily invested in her campaign, with expenses exceeding ₱134,000, as reported in her Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE). Although her background and activities raised doubts, Guo remained in office until last week, specifically August 13, when she was dismissed by the Ombudsman.
In a country like the Philippines, where corruption is widespread, such events may seem plausible. However, the controversy intensified when Guo accused a Chinese spy and presented evidence of her connections to China, significantly affecting Philippine politics. As tensions between China and the Philippines rose – especially after another vessel collision – news emerged that Alice Guo, who was on trial, had escaped the country. This development was a major blow to the Philippine judiciary and political systems.
Alice Guo’s story took a dramatic turn in March when officials raided a compound in her town and found around 1,000 workers, including victims of human trafficking, along with luxury villas, high-end cars, and expensive cognac. Investigators discovered a panic room and three underground tunnels at the eight-hectare (20-acre) site, which were believed to be escape routes for evading authorities. The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) reported that these tunnels led to a vacant plot of land owned by Guo. Guo, a controversial figure, reportedly owned 50% of Baofu, the compound where the criminal activities occurred, though she claims to have sold her share before becoming mayor. Despite these suspicious circumstances, Guo was involved in important meetings as a small-town mayor.
In June 2024, the Ombudsman suspended Guo from her position as mayor for up to six months following graft charges filed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). On August 13, 2024, the Ombudsman dismissed Guo from office. When Guo appeared before senators, she struggled to answer questions about her childhood, claiming she had grown up on a farm in Bamban. However, school records revealed by a senator contradicted her statements about her education. Additionally, the election commission discovered that the fingerprints on her election records matched those of a Chinese citizen. During the hearings, Senator Hontiveros accused Guo of possibly being a Chinese spy or criminal. Guo has since ceased attending Senate hearings, with her lawyer citing trauma from the experience and the widespread mockery of her responses on social media.
Guo is now the subject of a Senate arrest warrant for failing to attend hearings. However, reports have surfaced that she managed to outsmart authorities and flee the country. On Monday, Senator Risa Hontiveros claimed that Guo had left the Philippines, a claim previously denied by the Department of Justice. Hontiveros provided evidence indicating that Guo arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia on July 18, prompting questions about how she could have evaded such close scrutiny. Officials allege that Guo then flew to Singapore and later took a ferry to Riau, Indonesia, on August 18. An Indonesian immigration official confirmed her entry into the country that day, according to a Reuters report. The media began to celebrate it as a perfect spy game.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed anger over the news, despite the Chinese spy charges against Guo being upheld in court. He announced that a full-scale investigation is underway to determine how Guo managed to leave the country, and those responsible will be suspended and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. The presidential office has also ordered the cancellation of her passport.
The president’s statement highlights the weaknesses and vulnerabilities in the Philippine administration system, which has long been criticized for corruption and poor rule of law. Despite Guo running as an independent candidate, she supported Marcos Jr. during the 2022 campaign, backing both Bongbong Marcos for president and Sara Duterte for vice president. As the government defends itself, it will be interesting to see if China has deployed more spies in countries of strategic interest.
