Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo attends the hearing called by the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality on Sept. 17, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — After the public learned that Alice Guo had secretly escaped the Philippines in early July, the most common speculation was that she was heading to China, her alleged country of origin, never to be seen again.

• TIMELINE: Alice Guo's secret escape from PH and arrest in Indonesia

But the dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor did not attempt to go there at all during her weeks-long escapade to evade Philippine authorities.

Instead, she was hopping from one Southeast Asian country to another, with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission saying she was trying to seek refuge in the "Golden Triangle," referring to the crime-infested areas in Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos, allegedly controlled by syndicates and triads.

• Alice Guo headed to 'Golden Triangle' to evade arrest: PAOCC spox

Before she got there, Guo was arrested in Indonesia in September.

WHY NOT CHINA?

During the resumption of the Senate's probe into illegal POGOs on Tuesday, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa asked Guo where she was supposed to go had she not been nabbed by Indonesian authorities.

• Alice Guo arrested in Indonesia

"Actually, nag-uusap po kami na uuwi na ko sa Pilipinas, haharapin ko po at magpapaliwanag po ako," Guo told Dela Rosa. 

(Actually, we were discussing my going back to the Philippines to face these issues and explain myself)

According to the National Bureau of Investigation, Guo's fingerprints match those of Chinese national Guo Hua Ping.

Guo has insisted that she is a Filipino citizen, an issue that the Commission and Elections is looking into and that the Office of the Solicitor General has raised in court.

Upon Dela Rosa's questioning, Guo said going back to China was not part of her game plan at all.

"Before mangyari yung sa Indonesia, nag-uusap na kami na i-consider ko po talagang next move ko ay babalik ako sa Pilipinas," she explained.

(Before the apprehension in Indonesia, I was reallt considering going back)

But Dela Rosa was not convinced. 

He believes that Guo did not go back to China because she was "guilty" of being involved POGOs. Involvement in gambling, even through offshore operations, is a crime in China, where she would possibly face prosecution.

• Guo denies being a Chinese spy: 'I am a Filipino, I love my country'

"Kaya siguro ayaw mong pumunta ng China dahil involved ka sa POGO. Siguradong katay ka sa gobyerno ng China pag-umuwi ka doon dahil galit na galit ang gobyerno ng China sa POGO," the senator said.

(Maybe you didn't want to go to China because you are involved in POGOs. You would be in trouble there because China's government hates POGOs)

Guo insisted that she is not involved in POGOs.

WHAT CHINA SAYS ABOUT POGOs

Chinese law prohibits all forms of gambling, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines reiterated in July.

• Chinese embassy urges PH gov’t to ban POGOs

"The Chinese government strictly cracks down on Chinese citizens engaging in gambling business abroad including POGO," the Embassy's spokesperson said.

The Chinese government also "strictly cracks down on Chinese citizens engaging in gambling business abroad including POGO."

• 'POGO-politics': Suspected China ties of Tarlac town mayor alarms solon

Beijing had admitted that POGO is "detrimental to both Philippine and Chinese interests" as it  "breeds serious crimes such as kidnapping for ransom, human trafficking and murder."

When President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in his State of the Nation Address in July announced the banning of POGOs, the Chinese Embassy issued rare praise to the Philippine government.

• Marcos: 'Effective today, all POGOs are banned'

"[We] welcome this development. We believe this decision echoes the call of the Philippine people and serves the common interests of people of both countries," the Chinese Embassy said.

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