Amid growing tensions in the South China Sea, a Philippine mayor faces accusations of acting as a Chinese asset, sparking concerns about her loyalty and the extent of Beijing's influence in the region.
On the heels of escalating aggression by Chinese ships attempting to obstruct Philippine supply vessels, a Philippine mayor has found herself embroiled in a scandal that raises questions about her origins and allegiances. Alice Guo, the 35-year-old mayor of Bamban, has become the subject of scrutiny over her potential ties to China and her involvement in an online scam operation.
Guo's claims to have grown up on a pig farm and her seemingly unblemished record prior to a recent discovery in her town have come under intense scrutiny. Law enforcement uncovered a massive online casino (POGO) in Bamban that served as a front for a "scam center" employing nearly 700 workers, including over 200 Chinese nationals posing as "online lovers."
The raid on the POGO operation led to the rescue of workers who alleged they were forced into employment. The center perpetrated a "pig butchering" scam, in which scammers assumed fake identities to gain trust and later exploit victims for financial gain.
Guo's connection to the scandal emerged when it was discovered that she owned half the land where POGO was located. She was summoned to a Senate hearing, where she testified that she had sold the land before her mayoral run two years ago. However, irregularities in her account raised suspicions.
Guo's registration to vote in Bamban only occurred a year before her mayoral victory, and she registered her birth certificate at the age of 17. She provided limited details about her background, claiming to have been home-schooled in a pig-farming compound.
Senators grilled Guo over alleged opaque answers, leading one senator to question if she was a Chinese asset. Guo dismissed the accusations, asserting that she was not a "coddler" or "protector of POGOs."
The incident has heightened tensions between China and the Philippines, which have been engaged in ongoing territorial disputes as Beijing asserts control over waters around the Philippine archipelago. Clashes between Chinese Coast Guards and Filipino fishermen have become more frequent.
Last year witnessed several near-collisions between the two coast guards near the Second Thomas Shoal. The Philippine authorities protested China's deployment of water cannons and military-grade lasers.
In 2012, China unilaterally claimed the Scarborough Shoal, prompting a formal Philippine protest that reached a UN-backed tribunal. The 2016 ruling dismissed China's historical claims, but Beijing rejected the arbitration and its outcome.
The allegations against Guo underscore the complex and strained relationship between China and its neighboring countries in the South China Sea. As tensions continue to escalate, it remains to be seen how events will unfold and what further actions will be taken to address the growing Chinese aggression in the region.
