The Philippines is reeling after Alice Guo, a former mayor accused of espionage for China and connections to criminal syndicates, fled the country undetected. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced Wednesday that “heads will roll” following revelations that Guo had left the Philippines a month ago and traveled through Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.
Guo, who has been out of the public eye since July, was under investigation by a Senate panel for her alleged links to human trafficking syndicates and scam centers masquerading as online casinos. Her departure has been described as exposing the deep-seated corruption that undermines the justice system and erodes public trust.
The Bureau of Immigration reported that Guo left the Philippines illegally, bypassing border checks. Mr. Marcos has demanded an investigation into how she escaped, ordering the cancellation of her Philippine passport and pledging to “expose the culprits” who facilitated her flight.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, who has led the investigation into the scam centers, condemned the escape as “unacceptable” and criticized Guo for using her Philippine passport to flee. The scandal erupted after authorities discovered a massive illegal operation in Bamban, Guo’s hometown, involving Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos) linked to human trafficking and fraud.
Guo’s connections to the Pogos, which are legal but increasingly associated with criminal activities, have drawn scrutiny amid rising nationalist sentiment and tensions with China. Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s close ties with Beijing had seen Pogos flourish, but President Marcos has since reversed this stance, intensifying the crackdown on related crimes.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage, highlighting ongoing concerns about corruption and security in the Philippines.