A Philippine court has sentenced Alice Guo, a Chinese national who had served as mayor of Bamban in Tarlac province after presenting herself as a Filipina, to life in prison for human trafficking.
Seven others were also given life sentences.
Prosecutors said Guo was found guilty of operating a Chinese-run facility where hundreds of workers from various countries were forced to engage in online scam activities.
She had been arrested in Indonesia in September 2024 after leaving the Philippines.
The compound linked to Guo was raided in March 2024, leading to the rescue of more than 700 people from several nations.
Documents discovered on site allegedly identified her as president of the company that owned the property.
Authorities said four of the accused were convicted of organising trafficking operations, while four others were found guilty of participating in acts of trafficking.
Guo's election as mayor was previously voided by a Manila court, which ruled she was not eligible to run because she was a Chinese citizen.
Reports also noted allegations that she violated Philippine civil registry, immigration, and election laws.
Senator Risa Hontiveros welcomed the conviction, saying it represented progress in the fight against corruption, human trafficking, cybercrime and other cross-border criminal activities.
She also called for continued investigations into government agencies involved and into foreign-linked operations in the country.
Online scam networks have expanded across parts of Southeast Asia, with thousands of people involved.
A UN report estimated that victims across the region lost up to $37bn to such schemes in 2023.
Source:https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/20/chinese-woman-who-became-philippines-mayor-gets-life-for-human-trafficking
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