Alice Guo is running again for mayor in the Philippines despite Chinese espionage allegations: lawyer

Guo’s legal counsel Stephen David told reporters that she would file her candidacy on Tuesday, the last day of the week-long filing period for next year’s midterm elections.

Noting that the courts have not yet ruled on Guo’s cases, David said she plans to run again for mayor of the city of Bamban in Tarlac province to “show her love for the people,” citing the effort to disqualify, “just a formality”.

“If the people there really want her, they should be the ones to judge. People should decide whether she is worthy of holding office in her area… She will not be allowed to run, she will be disqualified. But this is not final,” he told reporters on Friday.

Guo was dismissed from public office after an anti-corruption court found her guilty of “serious misconduct” in August over her alleged ties to an offshore gambling operator (Pogos) in Bamban that authorities said was involved in the fraud Fraud operations and human trafficking activities The facility was raided in March.