Alice Guo Exits 2025 Mayor Race Amid Legal Battles

Alice Guo’s unexpected withdrawal from the 2025 mayoral race for Bamban, Philippines, has sent ripples through the political landscape. With legal troubles mounting, Guo, who gained notoriety as the “POGO Mayor” due to her associations with Philippine offshore gaming operators, made the decision public in an effort to clear her name amidst multiple allegations.

Guo, currently facing charges related to graft, qualified human trafficking, money laundering, and tax evasion, has been vocal about her intention to address these serious accusations head-on. Despite her incarceration at Pasig City Jail, she remains committed to her constituents, emphasizing her dedication to rectifying her reputation.

The case against Guo escalated when Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada brought attention to her connections with POGOs during a Senate panel’s 15th hearing. These hearings spotlighted the complex intersection of politics and gaming within the region. Senate member Joel Villanueva further warned of POGOs potentially funding candidates in the upcoming elections, coining the term “POGO politics” to describe this trend as a novel form of corruption.

The legal scrutiny surrounding Alice Guo intensified after her prior dismissal as mayor in August and the subsequent revocation of her Philippine passport by the Department of Foreign Affairs. This action followed the revelation that her biometrics matched those of a Chinese passport holder, Guo Hua Ping, in the National Bureau of Investigation’s records.

As the political climate heats up with potential POGO-sponsored candidates, the Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission has highlighted the possible influence of POGOs on the 2025 elections. With Guo’s exit marking a significant turn in Bamban’s mayoral race, the implications of her legal battles and the broader issue of POGO involvement in local politics remain key talking points in the lead-up to the elections.