A Philippine court on Thursday (November 20, 2025) sentenced Alice Guo,
a Chinese national who pretended to be a Filipina and even became a town mayor,
to life in prison. Seven others were also given life sentences. The judgment
came after state prosecutors proved that they were involved in a major human
trafficking operation.
Guo, who served as the mayor of a town north of Manila, was found guilty of
running a Chinese-operated online gambling centre. At this centre, hundreds of
people were reportedly forced to work. They were made to run online scams and
cheat people. If they refused, they were threatened with torture or punishment.
Investigators said the operation trapped workers in dangerous conditions, took
away their freedom, and treated them like prisoners. The case received huge
attention in the Philippines because Guo had risen to an important political
position while hiding her true identity.
With the court’s decision, authorities say they hope it sends a strong message
that human trafficking and abuse will not be tolerated in the country.