Analysts say the case highlights how foreign syndicates have exploited gaps in the country’s legal and political systems to gain a foothold in sensitive sectors – from local government to online gambling – often with help from insiders.
They warn Guo’s rise was no anomaly, but a symptom of institutional vulnerabilities that continue to enable illicit activities.
Guo, who previously served as mayor of Bamban in Tarlac province, was thrust into the spotlight in 2024 when authorities linked her to a Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) accused of carrying out fraud, trafficking and detention.
The company, originally named Hongsheng Gaming Technology and later rebranded as Zun Yuan, operated from a compound Guo owned. The firm had secured a no-objection endorsement from the Bamban municipal council in 2021 – one of the prerequisites for establishing a Pogo site.
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Philippine officials in hot water over selfies with fugitive mayor Alice Guo
Philippine officials in hot water over selfies with fugitive mayor Alice Guo
