Lemmy.World

Source: BBC: 'Chinese spy mayor' wanted by Philippines arrested

A former Philippine mayor who was on the run for weeks after being accused of spying for China has been arrested in Indonesia. Philippine authorities have been pursuing Alice Guo across four countries since she disappeared in July following an investigation into her alleged criminal activities. She has been accused of protecting online casinos, which were a front for scam centres and human trafficking syndicates in her sleepy pig farming town, Bamban.

The dramatic nature of her case, which has since seen her sister arrested and questioned by the Philippine Senate, sparked fury in the country and drew international attention. Ms Guo's case has played out as the Philippines and China continue to spar over reefs and outcrops in the South China Sea. China has not commented on the allegations against her.

A former Philippine mayor who was on the run for weeks after being accused of spying for China has been arrested in Indonesia.

Philippine authorities have been pursuing Alice Guo across four countries even since she disappeared in July following an investigation into her alleged criminal activities.

She has been accused of protecting online casinos, which were a front for scam centres and human trafficking syndicates in her sleepy pig farming town, Bamban.

Ms Guo denies the allegations. Philippine officials said they were co-ordinating with their Indonesian counterparts for her return to the Philippines "at the soonest possible time".

She said she grew up on the family farm with her Chinese father and Filipina mother, but MPs who investigated the scam centre operations said her fingerprints matched a Chinese national named Guo Hua Ping and accused her of being a spy who provided cover for criminal gangs.

The dramatic nature of her case, which has since seen her sister arrested and questioned before by the Philippine Senate, sparked fury in the country and drew international attention.

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