Is Bambam mayor a Chinese spy?

[OnMyWay]

This is scary to me.  It shows how the PRC has long term plans to infiltrate countries, and in poor countries, it is fairly easy to do with money alone.

 

[BrettGC]

Some Chinese students in many countries are on both sides of this:  Some as dissidents, others working for the CCP. 

There was a member of parliament in Australia that was accused of something similar with regards CCP connections. Gladys Lui was born in Hong Kong and in parliament for 3 years from 2019 to 2022 in the lower house (representatives).

Quotes from her Wiki page:

Quote

Between 2003 and 2015, Liu was a member of the Guangdong provincial chapter of the China Overseas Exchange Association, a bureau within the United Front Work Department of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) responsible for influencing overseas and returning Chinese residents.

__________

It has also been reported that in 2018 the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) had vetted certain guests at a "meet and greet" organised by Liu, and suggested that then-PM Malcolm Turnbull not attend it.

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In November 2019, media reports emerged that Liu had connections to an alleged Chinese spy, Nick Zhao (the guy in the linked video operating in Laos and Australia) – based on two images showing Zhao sitting next to Liu at a meeting for the Eastern Multicultural Branch of the Victorian Liberal Party on January 26, 2016, in Liu's former home. Zhao claimed that he had been offered over $1 million by an unnamed Chinese businessman to infiltrate the Australian Government by running for the seat of Chisholm. Zhao reported the alleged cultivation to ASIO. Liu reported that she "had no recollection" of meeting Zhao.

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It was alleged by Labor Senator Penny Wong that Liu promised to write references letters for foreign students' residency applications if they volunteered on her campaign.

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In December 2019, The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Liu assisted in securing meetings with federal politicians for the Australian subsidiary of Brighsun, a Chinese-controlled energy group. Brighsun was later implicated in a drug money laundering probe conducted by the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.

In January 2021, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that ASIO was investigating a donor with ties to Liu over foreign interference risks.

Nothing's been reported since.  It's unclear if ASIO (Austrlalia's internal security intelligence organisation) dropped the ball or if the then government didn't want a bi-election and potentially lose their one seat majority - Speaker aside - in the House of Representatives so tried to put a lid on it. Many suspect the latter despite ASIOs many fuax pas over the years, including famously revealing their own existence.

 

Edited May 19 by BrettGC

[graham59]

Our foolish countries (as well as the Phils) have exposed their defenseless bellies to a variety of of immigrant enemies for decades now. 

China and others are laughing.

(But don't complain about it , or you're a 'racist', and liable to be jailed).

[JJReyes]

The issue can be settled by determining her true citizenship.  In the meantime, all political commentary is speculative.  We have to wait.

[OnMyWay]

2 hours ago, BrettGC said:

 

Nothing's been reported since.  It's unclear if ASIO (Austrlalia's internal security intelligence organisation) dropped the ball or if the then government didn't want a bi-election and potentially lose their one seat majority - Speaker aside - in the House of Representatives so tried to put a lid on it. Many suspect the latter despite ASIOs many fuax pas over the years, including famously revealing their own existence.

 

Sounds like the Fang Fang case in California.  Completely buried.  Married congressman hires a cute Chinese spy to work in his office and has an affair with her.  Crickets.  No repercussions.

[Old55]

5 hours ago, OnMyWay said:

Sounds like the Fang Fang case in California.  Completely buried.  Married congressman hires a cute Chinese spy to work in his office and has an affair with her.  Crickets.  No repercussions.

Strongly agree.

 

[Clermont]

I thought there was no politics on this forum 

[BrettGC]

1 hour ago, Clermont said:

I thought there was no politics on this forum 

I don't see citing corruption, crime and espionage as politics.  

[OnMyWay]

13 hours ago, JJReyes said:

The issue can be settled by determining her true citizenship.  In the meantime, all political commentary is speculative.  We have to wait.

That seems to be a relatively easy task for someone of her status, but apparently not.  I find it very odd that she has significant memory loss of her childhood.

Lots of interesting info in her Wiki here, and we all know that Wiki is 101% reliable. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Guo

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Leal and the surname or paternal family name is Guo.
Alice Leal Guo

Mayor of Bamban, Tarlac
Incumbent
Assumed office
June 30, 2022
Preceded by    Jose Antonio Feliciano
Vice Mayor    Leonardo Anunciacion
Personal details
Political party    NPC (2023–present)[1]
Other political
affiliations    Independent (until 2023)
Occupation    Businesswoman, politician
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese    郭華萍
Simplified Chinese    郭华萍
Transcriptions
 
Alice Leal Guo[2] (Chinese: 郭華萍[3]) is a businesswoman and politician in the Philippines serving as the current mayor of the municipality of Bamban, Tarlac, since June 30, 2022.

In a Senate Committee inquiry, Guo was alleged by Senators Risa Hontiveros and Win Gatchalian to have links to illegal activities by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) following raids in Bamban in 2023 and 2024. Her Filipino citizenship has also been questioned and is now being investigated due to inconsistencies in her documents and testimony.[4][5][6]

Personal life
Details of Guo's early life and educational background are disputed. Guo states that she was born at her home, whose location she did not recall, or in the then-municipality of Tarlac,[7] on July 12, 1986[8] to a Chinese-Filipino father and a Filipino mother. Discrepancies arise regarding the nationality of Guo's father, as his birth certificate identified him as Filipino named Angelito Guo, while his business documents listed him as a Chinese national named Jian Zhong Guo. Additionally, an archived post on the official website of Bamban suggests a familial relationship between her and a woman named Patty, whom she referred to as her mother, though observers noted a perceived lack of resemblance between them.[9][10] She claimed that she did not grow up with her mother.[11]

Some residents of Bamban, including those from barangay Virgen de los Remedios, said that Guo lived and grew up there,[11][12] adding that she also has a sibling.[13] Guo has also stated that her family raised pigs for a living and that she grew up on a farm.[14] According to registration records of her companies, she claimed residency in Marilao, Bulacan, and Valenzuela, Metro Manila, citing her parents' embroidery business in the latter.[8] However, it was revealed that no such business existed, and her listed home address in Valenzuela belonged to a certain Baile family, according to Senator Win Gatchalian.[15]

Guo stated during a testimony at a joint Philippine Senate Committee investigation that she was homeschooled.[16] However, her birth was only registered when she was 17 years old.[17] This delay cast doubts on her early life, given the absence of hospital birth records and her inability to identify her homeschool provider. The absence of traditional educational records prompted inquiries into the nature of her education, including whether she pursued college.[18] Her failure to recall details of her birth and early life during the Senate inquiry became subject to online ridicule, which led to her being dubbed My Amnesia Girl (from a locally-produced film from 2010) in a popular meme.[19][20]

According to Guo's Certificate of Candidacy for Mayor filed before the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in 2021, she declared herself unmarried and claimed lifelong residency in the Philippines, residing at her registered address in Bamban for 18 years by that time.[7] It was revealed that she registered as a voter of Bamban in April 2021, just 13 months before the 2022 general elections, while COMELEC spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said that she had registered in 2018.[21][22]

Political career
In October 2021, Guo filed her certificate of candidacy to run for municipal mayor of Bamban, Tarlac as an independent candidate. She tapped former mayor Leonardo Anunciacion as her running mate for vice mayor. During the campaign period for the 2022 elections, she expressed support for the candidacies of Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte for president and vice president, respectively.[23] Her campaign expenses, according to her Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE), exceeded ₱134,000.[21] In 2024, she stated that she had received support from her friends and from the "previous administration" during the campaign.[14]

In May 2022, Guo won the mayoralty race, garnering 16,503 votes against her closest rival, Anupul barangay captain Joey Salting,[21] who received 16,035 votes in the seven-way contest.[24] Assuming office on June 30, 2022, she initiated projects including the Barangayan, offering complimentary medical, dental, and documentation services, alongside the provision of rabies vaccinations for both dogs and cats.[11]

Business career
Before venturing into politics, Guo has an extensive background as a businesswoman, serving as an incorporator and holding significant shares in at least 11 companies since 2010, according to Securities and Exchange Commission records.[8]

Alleged links to POGOs
Senator Win Gatchalian revealed Guo's alleged links with the firm Zun Yuan Technology, Inc., an online casino firm that was registered in the Philippines as a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO).[25] Prior to her election in 2022,[26] Guo had applied for the license of Hongsheng Gaming Technology, Inc.;[25] and in late 2020, the municipal council approved its establishment and operation.[27] Hongsheng had its license to operate canceled by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) by 2022.[27]

The POGO hub, situated in the property which is owned by Baofu Land Development, Inc. and is located behind the municipal building in Barangay Anupul, Bamban,[26] was twice raided by the authorities: in February 2023, for alleged involvement in cryptocurrency investment scams;[28] and in March 2024, due to allegations of human trafficking and other cybercrimes;[29] at that time, it had been renamed Zun Yuan.[25]

In May 2024, during a Senate inquiry, senators said that the POGO compound housed "mercenaries" allegedly involved in cybercrimes and surveillance activities, citing intelligence reports.[26][4] Meanwhile, Guo countered allegations against her, stating that she was the former landowner of the property, and her vehicle, found within the compound, was sold in 2020.[30] Guo stated that being one of the incorporators of Baofu, she later sold her shares upon entering politics.[31]

During the inquiry, Senator Risa Hontiveros floated an idea that Guo may be a Chinese "asset" trained to infiltrate the Philippine government and "have an influence in Philippine politics". In response to the allegations, Guo expressed dismay saying that she had been "judged prematurely" via a trial by publicity.[31] Guo stressed that she was "not a coddler, not a protector of POGOs".[32]

On May 16, 2024, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said he designated a "team of solicitors" to investigate if Guo is illegally "holding or exercising a public office" as prefatory to quo warranto under Rule 66, Revised Rules of Court.[6] The Department of the Interior and Local Government in its updated report submitted on May 17,[33] subsequently recommended that Guo be suspended by the Ombudsman following what it called “troubling findings” during its investigation over her alleged connections to POGOs.[34] Some members of the House of Representatives also expressed intent to launch a parallel probe of Guo.[35]

President Bongbong Marcos, who was seen in online photos meeting Guo during her 2022 mayoral campaign,[35] also supported an investigation, adding that she had been under investigation by authorities for some time and that she was not known to most politicians in Tarlac.[23][36] In an apparent effort to refute Marcos' claims that "no one knows her", photos from Guo's Facebook and other social media profiles resurfaced showing both Guo and Marcos together. Photos from March 2022 showed both Guo and Marcos in red shirts and face masks during the 2022 election campaign[37][38] , as well as photos of Guo doing a high five with Leyte's 1st district representative Martin Romualdez. Another photo from February 2024 also showed Guo elbow bumping with Marcos during the latter's inspection of the Airport–New Clark City Access Road (ANAR).[citation needed]

Electoral history
Bamban mayoral election, 2022[39]
Party    Candidate    Votes    %
Independent    Alice Guo    16,503    42.98%
NPC    Joey Salting    16,035    41.76%
Aksyon    Diegogarcia Ilagan    3,230    8.41%
PDP–Laban    Joseph Gomez    2,372    6.18%
Independent    Son Marimla    126    0.33%
Independent    Nestor Serrano    83    0.22%
Independent    Ferdinand Mariano    48    0.13%
Total votes    35,497    100.00%
Independent gain from NPC
References

[Jack Peterson]

3 hours ago, Clermont said:

I thought there was no politics on this forum 

 It would appear that as this is a Filipino forum conversation Politics are allowed but only appertaining to The Philippines