On June 30, the Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) announced that the court's decision to revoke the position of former Mayor Alice Guo of Banban City is a significant achievement in the government's fight against organized crime. The agency stated that this ruling highlights the practical effects of interdepartmental collaboration in eliminating illegal occupants in public office.
PAOCC Deputy Executive Secretary Gilbero Cruz pointed out in a statement that it is the joint efforts of multiple departments that ensure the rule of law and protect the rights of the public.
Last Friday, the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 34 ruled that Guo does not possess Philippine nationality, her real identity being the Chinese citizen "Guo Huaping," and ordered her removal from the public office registry. The court found her tenure as mayor to be illegal.
Guo Huaping had claimed she was born on a farm, a Philippine citizen, fathered by her father and a maid, in an attempt to rationalize her background. Despite limited political experience, she was elected mayor of Banban City in 2022, becoming the first female mayor of the locality. However, she did not participate in the 2025 elections, as she was busy dealing with legal troubles.
The case originated from a raid investigation by Sunfu Technology Company, which operates Philippine offshore gaming (POGO) services and has been implicated in cross-border fraud, human trafficking, and intelligence activities, thus involving Guo Huaping.
The court's ruling on her nationality also provided a legal basis for the authorities to recover related suspicious assets. It is claimed that the total assets involved exceed 4.5 billion pesos, highly related to organized crime.
Guo has repeatedly denied any involvement with illegal activities. In July 2024, she fled the Philippines to avoid investigation and was arrested in Indonesia in September and deported back to the country.
The prosecution stated that the case is a symbolic victory, highlighting the government's firm stance on anti-corruption and crime fighting, and also reflects the key role of the multi-department coordination mechanism in national governance.
