5-9-2024 (MANILA) Philippine authorities have arrived in Jakarta, Indonesia, to oversee the extradition of Alice Guo, the dismissed mayor of Bamban, Tarlac. Guo, who faces numerous charges including money laundering and allegations of ties to illegal gaming operations, was apprehended in Tangerang City, Banten province, earlier this week.
A contingent from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Bureau of Immigration touched down at Jakarta’s airport at 12:40 a.m. local time (1:40 a.m. Manila time), as reported by ABS-CBN journalist Zyann Ambrosio. This advance team is set to facilitate the formal handover process.
In a separate but coordinated effort, a high-level delegation departed from the Philippines late Wednesday. This group includes Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Marbil, and other key officials from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). They are joined by the Indonesian Police attaché and the PNP’s Director for Intelligence.
The saga of Alice Guo, the “Chinese spy mayor,” unfolds like a spy thriller gone wrong. Arrested in Indonesia after a globe-trotting escape, Guo’s case exposes the dark underbelly of corruption & illicit activities plaguing the Philippines.1/4 @SolomonYue@HKokbore@revolution528 pic.twitter.com/8DzFGGgpiD
— Migrel (@Migrel4) September 4, 2024
The culmination of this international operation is expected to take place on Thursday afternoon when Guo is scheduled to be officially transferred to Philippine custody. This marks a crucial step in bringing the former mayor to face justice in her home country.
Guo’s arrest comes in the wake of a Senate investigation that unveiled her departure from the Philippines on 18 July. The Philippine Embassy in Jakarta played a pivotal role in locating Guo by providing her travel information to Indonesian immigration authorities, highlighting the importance of diplomatic cooperation in cross-border law enforcement.
The case against Guo is substantial, with the NBI having filed multiple charges, including a staggering 87 counts of money laundering, with the Department of Justice (DOJ).
