Chinese Woman Sentenced to Life in Philippines for Human Trafficking, Had Posed as Mayor

A Chinese woman has been sentenced to life imprisonment in the Philippines for human trafficking. She had posed as a Filipino citizen and served as a local mayor. On Thursday (20 November), seven others in the same case were also sentenced to life imprisonment.

According to Al Jazeera, 35-year-old Alice Guo, serving as the mayor of a city north of Manila, controlled a Chinese-run gambling centre where hundreds of people were forced to conduct online scams.

Prosecutor Olivia Torevilas stated that Alice Guo was arrested in Indonesia in September 2024 after fleeing the Philippines.

Outside the Manila Regional Court, she said, “After just over a year, the court has ruled in our favour. Alice Guo and seven other co-defendants have been found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.”

In March 2024, a Vietnamese worker escaped from the gambling centre and informed the police. During a raid, police found an office building, a luxurious villa, and a large swimming pool. More than 700 Filipino, Chinese, Vietnamese, Malaysian, Taiwanese, Indonesian, and Rwandan citizens were discovered on the premises.

A spokesperson from the Philippines’ Anti-Organised Crime Commission said Guo and three others were convicted of organising human trafficking within the centre. Four additional individuals were found guilty of assisting in trafficking activities.

In June, a Manila court ruled that Guo, being a Chinese citizen, was ineligible to contest the mayoral position, and her term as mayor was annulled.

Khaborwala/SS