MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) confirmed that authorities apprehended Alice Guo, the dismissed mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, in Indonesia. Guo, who had been on the run since fleeing the Philippines, was arrested in Tangerang City in the early hours of September 4, 2024.
Details of the Arrest
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian broke the Alice Guo news, sharing that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) informed him of Guo’s capture. Gatchalian reports that “Guo Hua Ping, also known as Alice Guo, was arrested in Tangerang City at 1:30 a.m. on September 4, 2024. She is currently in the custody of the Indonesian Police.”
NBI Director Jaime Santiago confirmed that the arrest was verified by their counterparts in Indonesia. Santiago says that “She is under the custody of the Indonesian police.” He also mentioned that the NBI is working to arrange Guo’s transfer back to the Philippines. However, authorities have not yet clarified the specifics of how they carried out the arrest.
Indonesian Authorities Confirm Capture
Senator Risa Hontiveros further confirmed that Alice Guo was arrested after independently verifying the information through her sources in Indonesia. Hontiveros expressed her gratitude to the authorities involved in the operation, highlighting the collaboration between Philippine and Indonesian officials that led to Guo’s capture.
Alice Guo, who has faced allegations of links to Chinese criminal syndicates, had been evading authorities since July when she fled the Philippines. Her legal troubles escalated following a Senate investigation into a casino in Bamban, Tarlac. The investigation uncovered alleged scams connected to a facility partially owned by Guo. Subsequently, the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) filed multiple counts of money laundering against Guo and several others, accusing them of laundering over 100 million pesos.
Despite these accusations, Guo has maintained her innocence, claiming that the charges against her are baseless and politically motivated. After authorities removed her from her position as mayor, Guo fled the country. She traveled through Malaysia and Singapore before arriving in Indonesia in August.
With her arrest in Indonesia, Philippine authorities are now working closely with their Indonesian counterparts to facilitate Guo’s extradition. Once back in the Philippines, she will face charges related to her alleged involvement in criminal activities.
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