Fugitive Philippines ex-mayor arrested in Indonesia

A former mayor in the Philippines who was on the run since July after being accused of criminal ties with Chinese syndicates was reportedly arrested in Indonesia yesterday.

According to a Reuters report, Alice Guo was detained in Tangerang City, Java, and is currently being held by the Indonesian police.

The former mayor of Bamban town, on the Philippines’ Luzon island, was reportedly removed from her office and wanted by the Philippines Senate after she refused to attend a congressional probe on her alleged criminal ties.

The investigation began in May after Philippines authorities raided a Bamban casino in March, where authorities allegedly uncovered a scam operation in a facility built on land partially owned by Guo, read the report.

Guo later fled the Philippines and allegedly travelled to Malaysia and Singapore before arriving in Indonesia.

Philippines authorities have filed multiple charges related to money laundering against Guo and 35 others.

Following her arrest, Philippines Senate member Sherwin Gatchalian called for Guo to identify her accomplices and others in the government who helped her commit the alleged crimes.

This is so the government can also file charges against her co-conspirators, according to Philippines-based news site Inquirer.net.

“Now that she has been apprehended, she must be held accountable for the charges filed against her, such as human trafficking, money laundering, quo warranto, violation of Senate orders, and others.

“It is important that she faces justice here in our country,” Gatchalian reportedly said.

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