12-1-2025 (SINGAPORE) A complex international probe into alleged criminal activities linked to former Philippine mayor Alice Guo has reached Singapore’s shores, drawing attention to suspected connections with local residents and registered businesses in the city-state.
The investigation, which spans multiple jurisdictions, centres on Guo, the former mayor of Bamban in Tarlac, who was removed from office in August 2024 following allegations of grave misconduct. Two Singaporean residents, Zhang Jie and Wu Duanren, have emerged as key figures in the investigation.
Zhang, identified as the former president of Lucky South 99, a Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo), is wanted by Manila’s anti-corruption authorities. Philippine investigators allege Zhang’s gaming operation was involved in human trafficking and fraudulent activities. The Pogo industry faced a nationwide ban in July 2024 by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr due to its alleged links to criminal enterprises.
Corporate records reveal Zhang’s substantial business presence in Singapore, where he established four companies between 2020 and 2023, including Pan Sea Dict Technology and Coral Tree Harvest Investment Holdings. Two of these firms were marked for striking off as of December 2024.
Wu Duanren, described by Philippine lawmakers as a overseer of several illegal gambling operations, reportedly shares a Clementi address with Zhang. Philippine Senator Joel Villanueva has identified Wu as the alleged architect behind violence and kidnappings associated with Pogo operations.
The case has taken on additional complexity due to Guo’s connections to two convicted individuals from Singapore’s recent $3 billion money laundering case. Zhang Ruijin and Lin Baoying, who were deported to Cambodia in June 2024 after serving prison sentences, had previously partnered with Guo in a land development venture.
Singapore authorities have confirmed their cooperation with Philippine investigators. “We are working within the framework of Singapore’s laws to assist Philippine authorities,” a police spokesperson stated on 7 January. “Any credible evidence of alleged offences will be dealt with firmly under our legal system.”
The investigation has traced Guo’s movements through multiple Southeast Asian countries. After departing the Philippines in July 2024, she allegedly travelled through Malaysia and Singapore before being apprehended in Jakarta in September 2024. She has since been returned to the Philippines to face Senate inquiries.
Whilst Philippine investigators have suggested potential links to Chinese interests, Guo maintains her Philippine citizenship and denies all accusations. The ongoing investigation highlights the increasingly complex nature of cross-border financial crimes and the challenges of international law enforcement cooperation in Southeast Asia.
