According to authorities, a small-town president in the Philippines has fled to hiding after being accused of being a Chinese detective.
Due to the fact that Alice Guo was not at any of her known names, officers were unable to execute a subpoena for her arrest over the weekend.
Scam centres were uncovered in Ms Guo’s town of Bamban in March, concealed in online casinos that cater to mainland Chinese.
Her story has played out like a TV drama, as she had also been questioned on her Chinese parentage and suspicions that she was working as an “asset” or spy for Beijing.
Ms Guo’s case has gripped the nation as Manila and Beijing continue to spar over reefs and outcrops in the South China Sea.
Following her half snubbering summonses to appear in trials on the scam centers, the Senate ordered the arrest of Ms. Guo and some members of her family next Friday.
” Display yourselves. Hiding does not remove the truth”, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who is leading legislature’s research on Ms Guo, said in a speech.
Ms Guo has denied crime. She claims that her Taiwanese papa and Filipina family raised her on their animal land.
But Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, who is part of the investigation, claims Ms Guo is a Chinese federal whose real name is Guo Hua Ping, based on immigration information.
” She is hiding to escape arrest”, Mr Gatchalian told native television. Our search team will keep her at hand.
Ms. Guo addressed her components in a speech on Facebook the day the arrest warrant was signed, making references to the fact that she would not be present.
” I apologize for not being around each of you actually. I miss you all”, she said, adding her presence would become “temporary”.
In the article, she added that she did not regret joining elections, even if it hurt her so much that she “almost lost myself”.
I am a Filipino who loves Bamban heartily. I love the Philippines quite much”, she said.
Ms Guo’s attorney, Nicole Jamilla, told local television that her client had “definitely” cooperate with standard studies.
In addition to the Senate’s research, Ms. Guo is the subject of a distinct anti-graft investigation that has resulted in her suspension.
The Bamban scam centers have highlighted how Pogos ( Philippine Online Gaming Operations ) have been used as a cover for text scams, human trafficking, and other criminal activities.
Under Pogos, criminal networks have even gone so far as to construct hospitals where fugitives who want fresh faces can get plastic surgery.
Pogos flourished during the tenure of Rodrigo Duterte, whose president, which ended in 2022, was marked by near relations to China.
But under existing chairman Ferdinand Marcos, Pogos have come under close attention.
Ms. Guo may not be able to become president if it were established that she was a citizen of China. Just Filipino individuals are permitted to hold elected office.
However, this does not matter to her components because of the social mentoring initiatives that have been extensively documented on her social media pages.
Mr Guo “brought shift” to Bamban, and its individuals are proud, native Erica Miclat told ANC broadcast.