Jakarta, Sep 04 (V7N) — Alice Guo, a former mayor of Bamban, a small town in the Philippines, has been arrested by Indonesian police on charges of espionage for China. Guo, who had been on the run since July, was apprehended on Tuesday evening at the western border of Jakarta, Indonesia's capital.

According to reports from the BBC, Guo has been under investigation by Philippine authorities for allegedly spying on behalf of China. Her involvement with an online gambling operation, known as the Philippine Offshore Gambling Operation (POGO), which predominantly caters to Chinese nationals, first brought her under suspicion. A raid on the POGO office in Bamban last March uncovered connections that implicated Guo, leading to the current investigation.

After the investigation began, Guo evaded capture and was reportedly tracked across four different countries before being arrested in Indonesia. Philippine officials believe she entered Indonesia by boat, likely passing through Malaysia and Singapore. Indonesian authorities are currently working with the Philippine government on extradition procedures to bring Guo back to the Philippines, where she is expected to face trial.

Alice Guo has denied all allegations, including any involvement in illegal gambling activities. She also maintains that she is a Philippine citizen, despite growing suspicions about her true identity. Investigations revealed that Guo's fingerprints matched those of a Chinese national named Guo Hua Ping, raising questions about her nationality. Furthermore, her vague and inconsistent responses during a Senate hearing about her background, family, and education have fueled concerns that she may indeed be a Chinese agent.

The situation has drawn the attention of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has expressed his support for the ongoing investigation. "I know all the politicians in Tarlac province. Nobody knows him," Marcos Jr. commented, furthering the speculation surrounding Guo's mysterious origins.

If it is proven that Alice Guo is not a Philippine citizen, she could face charges of perjury, in addition to the allegations of espionage and involvement in illegal activities. For now, her extradition is awaited, and the case continues to unfold with significant implications for both her future and the political landscape of the Philippines.