On the 20th, a Philippine local court sentenced the former Filipino-Chinese mayor of Bamban City, Tarlac Province, Guo Huaping, to life imprisonment for the crime of human trafficking. The 35-year-old Guo Huaping had previously been suspected by a Philippine senator of being a Chinese spy.
Philippine GMA TV reported on the 20th that the Pasig City Regional Trial Court convicted former Bamban City Mayor Guo Huaping and others of human trafficking and sentenced them to life imprisonment, along with a fine of 2 million pesos (140,900 ringgit).
In 2024, Guo Huaping was suspected of being a Chinese spy by a Philippine senator. In June this year, the Manila Regional Trial Court pointed out in a 67-page judgment that although Guo Huaping holds a Philippine passport, she falsified her birth certificate and is, in fact, a Chinese citizen holding a Chinese passport, and both her parents are Chinese citizens. By law, she is not allowed to run for or hold public office in the Philippines and had “illegally occupied the position of mayor, therefore her position is revoked.”
Guo Huaping and her co-defendants did not appear in court on the 20th, but participated through a videoconference.
According to Philippine law, the term of life imprisonment ranges from 20 to 40 years. The prisoner can only apply for clemency after serving 30 years. The defendants can appeal against the verdict of the lower court.
Mystery identity involved in laundering over 7.04 million
In August last year, then Bamban City Mayor of Tarlac Province, Guo Huaping, was suspected of money laundering. The local Anti-Money Laundering Council later filed charges with the Department of Justice, accusing Guo Huaping and 35 others of multiple money laundering offenses involving more than 10 million pesos (7.0425 million ringgit). It is reported that after suspicions arose that Guo Huaping was “working for China” and her background was a mystery, police uncovered that Guo was the registered owner of land used by online casinos after raiding one. Two of her business partners were suspects in a Singapore money laundering case. Authorities later seized real estate, luxury vehicles, and a helicopter that Guo and her associates had obtained through illegal activities.
Guo Huaping, who was involved in fraud cases, was summoned to the Senate hearing to be questioned. Some senators inquired about her family background and upbringing, and whether she was “working for China.”
Guo Huaping gave vague answers, saying that because she was not born in a hospital or clinic, she did not register her birth certificate with the local authorities until the age of 17. She also said she was born to a family running a pig farm and was homeschooled before high school.
As for allegations that she once owned land used in a scam park, Guo Huaping explained that she sold her ownership of the land two years before running for mayor.
Guo Huaping spoke without any foreign accent. She registered as a Bamban City voter in 2021 and was elected mayor the following year.
Guo Huaping's background is mysterious. Even the local national statistics office has no information about her parents. This led Philippine President Marcos Jr. to express doubts. He told the media that before Guo Huaping was elected mayor, no one in local politics really knew her or where she was from, and he ordered an investigation into her citizenship.
In 2024, Guo Huaping was suspected of being a Chinese spy by a Philippine senator. In June this year, the Manila Regional Trial Court pointed out in a 67-page judgment that although Guo Huaping holds a Philippine passport, she falsified her birth certificate and is, in fact, a Chinese citizen holding a Chinese passport, and both her parents are Chinese citizens. By law, she is not allowed to run for or hold public office in the Philippines and had “illegally occupied the position of mayor, therefore her position is revoked.”
Guo Huaping and her co-defendants did not appear in court on the 20th, but participated through a videoconference.
According to Philippine law, the term of life imprisonment ranges from 20 to 40 years. The prisoner can only apply for clemency after serving 30 years. The defendants can appeal against the verdict of the lower court.
Mystery identity involved in laundering over 7.04 million
In August last year, then Bamban City Mayor of Tarlac Province, Guo Huaping, was suspected of money laundering. The local Anti-Money Laundering Council later filed charges with the Department of Justice, accusing Guo Huaping and 35 others of multiple money laundering offenses involving more than 10 million pesos (7.0425 million ringgit). It is reported that after suspicions arose that Guo Huaping was “working for China” and her background was a mystery, police uncovered that Guo was the registered owner of land used by online casinos after raiding one. Two of her business partners were suspects in a Singapore money laundering case. Authorities later seized real estate, luxury vehicles, and a helicopter that Guo and her associates had obtained through illegal activities.
Guo Huaping, who was involved in fraud cases, was summoned to the Senate hearing to be questioned. Some senators inquired about her family background and upbringing, and whether she was “working for China.”
Guo Huaping gave vague answers, saying that because she was not born in a hospital or clinic, she did not register her birth certificate with the local authorities until the age of 17. She also said she was born to a family running a pig farm and was homeschooled before high school.
As for allegations that she once owned land used in a scam park, Guo Huaping explained that she sold her ownership of the land two years before running for mayor.
Guo Huaping spoke without any foreign accent. She registered as a Bamban City voter in 2021 and was elected mayor the following year.
Guo Huaping's background is mysterious. Even the local national statistics office has no information about her parents. This led Philippine President Marcos Jr. to express doubts. He told the media that before Guo Huaping was elected mayor, no one in local politics really knew her or where she was from, and he ordered an investigation into her citizenship.