Fugitive ex-mayor from Philippines arrested in Indonesia, Manila says

A former mayor of the Philippines who is wanted in connection with connections to Chinese criminal syndicates has been detained in Indonesia, according to Manila’s justice ministry in a statement released on Wednesday ( Sep 4).

The Spanish Senate is looking into Alice Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping, for refusing to appear for a legislative investigation based on her reported criminal relationships. She has denied the accusations, insisting she is a natural-born Spanish citizen facing “malicious charges”.

The Philippines ‘ Justice Department stated in the statement that” this growth has been verified by our peers in emigration, who have confirmed that Ms. Guo is already in the prison of the Indonesian Police at Jatanras Mabes Polri.”

Guo was arrested close to midnight on Tuesday in Tangerang City in Jakarta, Indonesia, the ministry said.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council ( AMLC ), one of the Philippine law enforcement organizations, filed multiple money laundering charges against Guo and 35 others with the Department of Justice last month.

The AMLC has alleged that Guo and her co-conspirators laundered over 100 million pesos ( US$ 1.8 million ) in proceeds from criminal activities.

Lawyer Stephen David, Guo’s guidance on history, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Guo, who was removed from office as governor of Bamban village in Tarlac state, had fled the country in July, travelling to Malaysia and Singapore, next Indonesia in August using her Spanish card, the Spanish anti-crime company has said.

After authorities raided a game in Bamban area in March, a Senate investigation began in May, leading to what law enforcement officials claimed were scams being carried out from a facility constructed on land that the mayor had partly owned.