MANILA – The Philippines has reported that former mayor Alice Guo, who is implicated in an alleged money laundering scandal involving China-centric online casinos, has left the country despite facing legal scrutiny.
According to Winston Casio, spokesperson for the Presidential Anti-Organised Crime Commission, Guo was tracked leaving for Kuala Lumpur from Denpasar, Indonesia, on July 18, before flying to Singapore three days later. Most recently, immigration records show that she arrived in Batam, Indonesia, via ferry from Singapore on August 18.
However, Guo’s lawyer, Stephen David, contradicted these reports on August 20, stating that Guo told him she remains in the Philippines.
Guo, a former local official, has had her bank accounts frozen due to allegations of money laundering, human trafficking, and fraud. She has been under investigation by the Philippine Senate for her alleged involvement with China-centric casinos, which have since been banned in the country. Her legal team has denied all accusations.
The Philippines’ Department of Justice has launched an inquiry into how Guo was able to leave the country despite an immigration lookout bulletin that was intended to monitor her movements closely.