A former Philippine mayor, already scrutinized over alleged ties to China, has been sentenced to life imprisonment following her conviction on human trafficking charges linked to a vast “pig-butchering” scam operation just north of Manila. Alice Guo, 35, the former mayor of Bamban, was sentenced Thursday alongside three co-defendants and ordered to pay a P2 million fine (approximately $33,800). The ruling concludes one aspect of a high-profile case that exposed a massive fraud center operating under the guise of an online gaming hub in her jurisdiction.
The conviction stems from an investigation into one of the country’s largest fraud compounds, located in Bamban, a municipality north of the national capital. During a raid on the site, authorities rescued approximately 800 individuals, including both Filipinos and international workers. Victims detailed being forced into operating sophisticated online confidence scams known as “pig-butchering” schemes. This type of digital fraud typically involves building long-term, intimate relationships with targets before persuading them to invest in bogus financial opportunities, ultimately stealing their savings.
From Local Leader to Fugitive
Guo, who began her tenure as Bamban’s mayor in 2022, initially maintained a positive image among her constituents. That reputation dissolved in 2024 following the exposure of an eight-hectare complex situated suspiciously close to her office. The sprawling 36-building site operated under the cover of a Philippine Online Gaming Operation (POGO), catering to clients primarily located in mainland China, where gambling is illegal.
The crisis intensified as judicial and legislative scrutiny mounted. Guo initially claimed ignorance regarding the facility, but a subsequent Senate inquiry revealed severe inconsistencies. Investigators determined the complex, too large to be overlooked, was built on land formerly owned by Guo.
Background Scrutiny and Removal from Office
Lawmakers further uncovered anomalies surrounding the former mayor’s identity and origins. Contrary to her public assertions of being Philippine-born, evidence suggested Guo may have migrated from China during her teenage years. Fingerprint analysis reportedly matched her with a Chinese national named Guo Hua Ping, leading to mounting concerns about her allegiance and background. As the investigation intensified, Guo was officially removed from office.
The legal jeopardy accelerated in July 2024 when Guo disappeared, triggering an international search across four countries. She was apprehended in Indonesia in September and subsequently extradited to the Philippines. Her Philippine passport was soon canceled.
Implications and Pending Legal Actions
The human trafficking conviction marks a significant judicial victory against organized transnational cybercrime operating within the Philippines. The case highlights the complex challenge POGOs pose, often acting as fronts for illicit activities like scam operations, money laundering, and human exploitation.
While the prominent human trafficking case is resolved, Guo still faces a slate of significant legal challenges. She currently faces five additional pending criminal charges, including a high-stakes money laundering charge stemming from the massive profits generated by the fraudulent enterprise. Although Guo has consistently denied all allegations, it remains unclear whether her legal team intends to appeal the current life sentence. The verdict sends a strong deterrence signal to others involved in perpetuating these large-scale, digitally enabled crimes that exploit vulnerable individuals globally.