The Philippines has reported that former mayor Alice Guo, who is under scrutiny for alleged involvement in money laundering linked to China-centric online casinos, has exited the country. According to Presidential Anti-Organised Crime Commission spokesperson Winston Casio, Guo departed from Denpasar, Indonesia, to Kuala Lumpur on July 18, then traveled to Singapore before arriving in Batam, Indonesia, on August 18. The movement was tracked via immigration records from the respective countries.
Contradicting these records, Guo’s lawyer, Stephen David, asserted on August 20 that Guo is still in the Philippines. This discrepancy has raised concerns about her true whereabouts and the effectiveness of existing travel restrictions. Guo’s bank accounts were previously frozen amid investigations into money laundering, human trafficking, and fraud. Additionally, the Philippine Senate investigated her ties to China-centric online casinos, which have since been banned.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) in the Philippines has announced an investigation into how Guo was able to exit the country despite an immigration lookout bulletin order designed to monitor her movements closely. This order was intended to prevent her from leaving while investigations were ongoing.The situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the Philippine authorities in dealing with complex cases of financial crime and ensuring that all legal measures are enforced effectively.