Fugitive Philippine Mayor Headed to Lawless Drug Region, Authorities Say

The fugitive former mayor of a small town in the Philippines accused of having links to human trafficking via the online gambling industry is likely headed for the notorious Golden Triangle region, authorities have said.

Alice Leal Guo fled the Philippines by speedboat on July 18 after repeatedly failing to turn up to a Senate committee hearing examining her case.

The agency said this week it believes Guo is taking a circuitous route to the Golden Triangle, a semi-lawless area spanning the intersecting borders of Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar, which is under the influence of triads, drug cartels, and trafficking syndicates.

Shocking Discovery

The Guo case became a national sensation after police raided a POGO (Philippine Online Gambling Operator) complex in her town of Bamban in the northern province of Tarlac last February.

Inside, they found hundreds of trafficked workers, Guo’s car, and documents showing the land on which the POGO complex was built was partially owned by the mayor.

Residents of Bamban say that no one knew Guo before she ran for mayor in 2022, which is also when all of her social media accounts were registered.

Meanwhile, investigators have discovered that large sums of money were deposited in Guo’s bank accounts, which were then transferred to other individuals and business entities in China.

The mystery surrounding Guo’s identity has led to speculation that she is a Chinese asset, which she has denied.

Fujian Clan

The PAOCC claims Guo is connected to the so-called “Fujian Clan,” a network of Chinese nationals that washed at least US$2.2 billion — largely the proceeds of illegal online gambling — through Singapore’s banking system.

“We are confident that she is trying to get into the Golden Triangle,” said Winston Casio, spokesperson of the PAOCC, who added that the Guo family also has business interests in Cambodia, another hotbed of triad scam centers.

“They are part of a big criminal organization. The Fujian Gang, to which the Guos belong. is part of the Golden Triangle Triad,” he claimed.

Guo’s escape from the Philippines has angered President “Bongbong” Marcos. Speaking of those who must have aided her flight, he warned that “heads will roll” over the “corruption that undermines our justice system and erodes public trust.”