Fugitive Filipino mayor arrested in Indonesia

Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Alice Guo, a fugitive and former Filipino mayor, has been arrested in Indonesia, President Bongbong Marcos Jr. of the Philippines said Wednesday.

In a recorded statement, Marcos said the 34-year-old former mayor of Bamban, located about 62 miles northeast of the capital Manila, was arrested at about 1 a.m. local time Wednesday in Jakarta, Indonesia.

"I congratulate all law enforcement personnel who made this apprehension possible," he said. "The public may not know the intricate details of this mission that you have successfully accomplished, but on their behalf, accept my thanks."

Guo is believed to have fled the Philippines for Malaysia in July before moving on to Singapore and then Indonesia the middle of last month. The Filipino authorities have been searching for Guo, who they have accused in criminal complaints of human trafficking and money laundering in connection to an illegal offshore gaming operator.

The Philippines Department of Justice also confirmed Guo's arrest, saying in a statement carried by the official Philippine News Agency that she was currently in the custody of the Indonesian police.

"We will ensure that all legal processes are followed to hold her accountable for any crimes committed," Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said.

"The DOJ is committed to pursuing justice and will continue to coordinate closely with Indonesian authorities to facilitate the necessary legal procedures."

The charges against Guo followed a raid of a Bamban casino operated by Chinese-owned Zun Yuan Technology Inc. in March. Nearly 800 people, more than half being foreigners, were rescued by the authorities, who alleged human trafficking was being perpetrated by the Philippine offshore gaming operator.

According to the Justice Department , Baofu is the leasing company that was incorporated by Guo that rented the space to Zun Yuan Technology.

Guo was elected mayor of Bamban in 2022, but authorities allege that she never divested from the company. She was dismissed from office last month by the Office of the Ombudsman, which found her to be "guilty of grave misconduct," it said in a statement .

Her sister, Shiela, and a business associate, Cassandra Li Ong, had earlier been arrested in Indonesia and deported to the Philippines in connection to the case.

"Let this serve as a warning to those who attempt to evade justice: Such is an exercise in futility. The arm of the law is long and it will reach you," Marcos said.