A Philippine court has sentenced former Bamban mayor Alice Guo and seven of her associates to life imprisonment after finding them guilty of human trafficking linked to a large Chinese-operated scam centre north of Manila. The ruling marks a significant moment in the country’s crackdown on offshore criminal syndicates that have expanded across Southeast Asia in recent years.
Guo, a 35-year-old Chinese national, had long claimed to be Filipina when she successfully ran for mayor of Bamban, Tarlac. However, court investigations later revealed she falsified her identity to obtain public office an issue that further fuelled public anger when the trafficking scandal broke.
Her downfall began in March 2024 when a Vietnamese worker escaped from the compound and alerted authorities. Police raided the sprawling facility and rescued more than 700 victims, including Filipinos, Chinese, Vietnamese, Malaysians, Indonesians, Taiwanese, and even Rwandans. Many were allegedly forced to run online scams under threats of violence, torture, or extended confinement.
The compound, equipped with offices, luxury villas, and a swimming pool, was linked to a company where Guo was listed as president. Prosecutors described her as a key orchestrator of the trafficking operations. After fleeing the country, she was arrested in Indonesia in September 2024 and extradited to face charges.
State prosecutor Olivia Torrevillas confirmed the life sentences, noting that four defendants, including Guo, were convicted of “organising trafficking,” while four others were found guilty of “acts of trafficking.” Their identities remain protected under confidentiality laws.
The case has intensified scrutiny of the transnational scam industry in Southeast Asia. A UN report estimated that victims across the region lost up to $37 billion in 2023, with actual global losses likely much higher.
The scandal also prompted President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to impose a nationwide ban on offshore gambling operations, which proliferated during the Duterte administration. Many such centres were found to employ foreign workers under abusive conditions.
As the Philippines continues investigations into related networks, Guo’s conviction stands as a stern warning to criminal groups exploiting legal loopholes and vulnerable workers.
