The case of elected Mayor of Bamban, Tarlac (Philippines) in 2022 is one full of serious questions involving not only how easy it is to secure birth certificates and passports in the Philippines (even by foreigners), to ensure non-interference of law enforcers in illegal activities, to buy chunks of land and start big businesses, and to be elected to government positions, but most importantly, how our national security is seriously at risk.
Mayor Alice Leal-Guo became the focus of a Senate investigation when two foreigners, a Vietnamese and a Malaysian, escaped a huge POGO (Phil. Offshore Gaming Operation) hub in her small town of Bamban, and revealed the illegal operations such as illegal gambling, human trafficking, scamming and accounts hacking, and torture happening in the newly-built billion-dollar buildings and villas located just behind the municipal hall. Guo said she previously owned the property but divested her interest therein before she ran as Mayor. The Senate investigation revealed that Guo’s business partners -- Chinese nationals -- are fugitives from another country where they’re charged with money laundering. Guo said she didn’t know that her partners in business are fugitives until the Senate hearing, and claimed she has no part in their present operations, but simply introduced their head to the “previous administration” for permits. Documents, however, showed that it was Guo who applied for the Chinese company, and that even at present, the bills and some vehicles used by this group still are under her name.-- READ MORE