A former Philippines mayor, Alice Guo, has been sentenced to life in prison for human trafficking in a case that included accusations of spying for China. The sentencing on Thursday, along with three others, marks a pivotal moment in a story that has captivated the Philippines for years.
On November 20, 2025, a regional trial court in the Philippines handed down life sentences to Alice Guo and three co-accused for their roles in operating a human trafficking ring. The court also imposed a fine of 2 million pesos (approximately $33,832) as part of the verdict. This ruling followed a detailed legal process that began with the discovery of illegal activities in the small town of Bamban, Tarlac.
Guo was elected mayor of Bamban in 2022 and was initially perceived by residents as a compassionate and effective leader. However, in 2024, authorities uncovered a massive scam center hidden under online gambling operations, known locally as Philippine Online Gaming Operations (Pogos). The raid on the compound led to the rescue of about 800 individuals, including both Filipinos and foreigners.
Many of those rescued reported being forced to participate in “pig butchering” scams, which involve building fake romantic relationships online to defraud victims of large sums of money. The scam center spanned eight hectares and contained 36 buildings, all located near Guo’s municipal office. This proximity raised immediate questions about her knowledge and involvement in the illegal operations.
Investigations revealed that the land housing the compound was previously owned by Guo, contradicting her initial denials of any connection. Further scrutiny uncovered discrepancies in her personal history, including evidence that she was not born in the Philippines as claimed but had migrated from China as a teenager. Her fingerprints were also found to match those of a Chinese national named Guo Hua Ping, fueling suspicions about her true identity and alleged espionage ties.
As the case gained national attention, Guo fled the Philippines in July 2024, prompting an international manhunt across four countries. She was arrested in Indonesia in September 2024 and extradited back to the Philippines, where her passport was canceled. Her disappearance and subsequent capture added dramatic layers to the already high-profile case.
The sentencing unfolds amid ongoing territorial disputes between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea. While the case has dominated Philippine media, Chinese authorities have remained silent on the allegations against Guo, leaving the espionage aspect unconfirmed by official sources. This silence has intrigued observers given the geopolitical tensions.
Guo still faces five additional cases, including charges of money laundering, and it is unclear whether she will appeal the life sentence. The outcomes of these proceedings could influence both domestic governance in the Philippines and bilateral relations with China, highlighting the broader implications of this landmark case.
