Philippine senator won't rule out possibility that ex-mayor Alice Guo could be a Chinese spy

MANILA - A Philippine senator leading an investigation into a former mayor's alleged links to Chinese criminal syndicates said on Sept 20 she would not rule out her possible involvement in espionage.

Alice Guo, who ran for mayor of Bamban as a Filipino but is also known as Chinese national Guo Hua Ping, is facing criminal charges that include graft, stemming from accusations she abused her power to allow offshore gambling to flourish in her town.

"I'm not yet prepared to conclude that she is not involved, or that the people associated with her are not involved in espionage," Senator Risa Hontiveros told foreign correspondents.

A senate committee headed by Ms Hontiveros launched an investigation into Guo in May, after a casino raid in Bamban in the province of Tarlac uncovered what law enforcers described as scams run from a facility on land that she partly owned.

In earlier hearings, Ms Hontiveros had asked Guo if she was an "asset" for China.

Guo, who maintains she is a natural-born Philippine citizen, has denied she is a spy, as well as other accusations against her, calling them malicious.

Her case has gripped the Philippines at a time of growing suspicion about China's activities, following an escalation of disputes in the South China Sea where the two nations have overlapping claims.

China's embassy in Manila and Guo's lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the remarks by Ms Hontiveros.

A court postponed Guo's scheduled arraignment on Sept 20 while it decides on her plea to have the case dismissed. She arrived in court wearing a mask and a ballistics helmet.

Guo, Bamban's mayor since 2022, was removed from office by the Ombudsman in August for grave misconduct. She also faces a money