MANILA, Sept 4 — A fugitive former mayor in the Philippines accused of links to Chinese criminal syndicates has been arrested in Indonesia, Manila’s Justice Ministry said in a statement today.
Alice Guo, also known as Chinese national Guo Hua Ping, is wanted by the Philippine Senate for refusing to attend a congressional probe into her alleged criminal ties. She has denied the accusations, insisting she is a natural-born Philippine citizen who is facing “malicious accusations”.
“This development has been verified by our counterparts in Immigration, who have confirmed that Ms Guo is currently in the custody of the Indonesian Police at Jatanras Mabes Polri,” it said.
Guo was arrested at close to midnight yesterday in Tangerang City in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Philippine law enforcement agencies, including the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), last month jointly filed multiple counts of money laundering against Guo and 35 others before the Department of Justice.
The AMLC has alleged that Guo and her co-conspirators laundered over 100 million pesos (RM7.68 million) in proceeds from criminal activities.
Guo’s counsel on record Stephen David did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Guo, who was removed from office as mayor of Bamban town in Tarlac province, had fled the country in July, travelling to Malaysia and Singapore, then Indonesia in August using her Philippine passport, said the Philippine anti-crime agency.
A Senate probe began in May after authorities raided a casino in Bamban town in March, uncovering what law enforcement officials said were scams being perpetrated from a facility built on land partially owned by the mayor.
— Reuters
