The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has officially canceled dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Leal Guo (Guo Hua Ping)’s Philippine passport after confirming a fraudulent acquisition.
DFA cancelled Guo’s passport after the DFA received a certification from the Department of Justice (DOJ) on September 18, 2024, which indicated that the former mayor’s biometrics matched those in the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) files.
Guo’s passport was canceled on September 30, 2024, in accordance with Section 10 (b) (4) of Republic Act No. 11983, or the New Philippine Passport Law. This provision stipulates that passports may be canceled if acquired fraudulently, tampered with, or issued erroneously.
“We are dedicated to upholding the security and integrity of our passport issuance process,” DFA said in a statement on Friday, October 4.
“The fraudulent application and acquisition of passports will always be referred to law enforcement agencies for thorough investigation and prosecution,” DFA added.
Guo has been under investigation for several months regarding her connection to a Philippine Offshore Gambling Operator (POGO) located near the municipal hall in Bamban. This POGO was discovered to be a center for scam activities and human rights violations against its employees.
She is currently facing multiple charges, including trafficking and graft. Additionally, the Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed her and barred her from holding public office. Guo is presently in police custody after fleeing the Philippines and being apprehended in Indonesia.
Questions about Guo’s true identity first emerged during a Senate inquiry led by opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros. She has been accused of being a Chinese spy, a claim she has refuted.
Recently, an Al Jazeera report reignited suspicions about Guo’s alleged espionage. The report featured a China-born gambling mogul who claims to be an agent of the Ministry of State Security and identified Guo as a fellow operative.
Furthermore, it mentioned that locals from the Chinese town where she supposedly originated stated that Guo did not leave China until 2002. Guo asserts that she was born in the Philippines to a Chinese father and a Filipina mother and has denied these accusations as well. (TCSP)
