Fugitive ex-mayor from Philippines arrested in Indonesia, Manila says

4/9/2024 11:40

        A fugitive former mayor in the Philippines accused of links to Chinese criminal syndicates has been arrested in Indonesia, Manila's justice ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
        
        Alice Guo, also known as Chinese national Guo Hua Ping, is wanted by the Philippine Senate for refusing to attend a congressional probe on her alleged criminal ties. She has denied the accusations, insisting she is a natural-born Philippine citizen facing "malicious accusations".
        
        The Philippines' Justice Department said in the statement, "This development has been verified by our counterparts in Immigration, who have confirmed that Ms. Guo is currently in the custody of the Indonesian Police at Jatanras Mabes Polri."
        
        The department said, Guo was arrested close to midnight on Tuesday in Tangerang City in Jakarta, Indonesia.
        
        Philippine law enforcement agencies, including the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), last month jointly filed multiple counts of money laundering against Guo and 35 others before the Department of Justice.
        
        The AMLC has alleged that Guo and her co-conspirators laundered over 100 million pesos ($1.8 million) in proceeds from criminal activities.