Examining Alice Guo’s “link” to a Fujian gang

Dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo’s alleged connection to the notorious Fujian gang—a crime syndicate based in Fujian, China—came under intense scrutiny after a congratulatory poster celebrating her election win appeared in a Chinese newspaper during a House inquiry.

Guo made her first appearance before the House quad committee investigating illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) on Thursday, where she faced numerous questions from lawmakers about her business activities and potential ties to the Fujian gang.

Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro presented a photo from a Chinese newspaper featuring a congratulations message for Guo. The message, originally in Mandarin, was translated to say, “Congratulations to Alice Guo, the first Chinese mayor of Bamban.”

Luistro explained that the congratulations poster came from businessmen in Manila who were originally from Fujian, China. “Since they are Chinese, they chose to congratulate her through a Chinese newspaper,” she said in Filipino.

According to a report by the Daily Tribune, during an overseas manhunt for Guo, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission spokesperson Winston Casio revealed that the former mayor had attempted to enter the Golden Triangle, a region known for criminal activity that spans parts of Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and China.

Casio had previously linked the Fujian gang to the Golden Triangle, describing it as a crime syndicate resembling triads, with both immigrant networks in Hong Kong and local ones in Fujian.

According to Bureau of Immigration records, Guo’s alleged mother, Lin Wen Yi, also hails from Fujian.

Luistro further highlighted that two of Guo’s business partners and co-incorporators of Bamban-based Baofu Land Development Inc.—Lin Baoying and Rujin Zhang—are also from Fujian. Both were convicted of anti-money laundering offenses in Singapore.

“Based on our research, Mr. Chair, these two incorporators, Lin Baoying and Rujin Zhang, are from Fujian, China, and were convicted of anti-money laundering in Singapore,” Luistro reported.

Guo, however, denied any knowledge of the Fujian gang, claiming it was the first time she had heard of them.

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