Bamban Mayor Guo faces scrutiny over POGO ties, birth records

Alice Leal Guo, the mayor of Bamban, Philippines, faces scrutiny over her background and alleged ties to illegal operations.

During a Senate hearing on May 7, more damning accusations emerged against Mayor Guo, linking her to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) firms in Bamban, Tarlac, including Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated, which was raided for human trafficking and illegal detention.

Guo denied having connections with Pogos but admitted filing a Letter of No Objection (LONO) for Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc., claiming she sold her interest before becoming mayor.

Senator Risa Hontiveros raised concerns about Guo's personal life, highlighting inconsistencies in her educational background and lack of birth records, suggesting the possibility that Guo may be a foreigner trained to infiltrate government positions.

Investigations are ongoing, with the Office of the Solicitor General forming a team to determine if Guo has legal rights to hold public office, while the House of Representatives and Commission on Elections (Comelec) also express intentions to probe further into her case.