Court Ousts Alice Guo, Declares Her a Chinese Citizen

Alice Guo, who served as mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, has been officially removed from office after a Manila court ruled that she is not a Filipino citizen but a Chinese national, making her ineligible to hold public office in the Philippines.

In a decision dated June 27, 2025, the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 34 declared Guo had no legal right to run for or occupy the position of mayor. The ruling came in response to a quo warranto petition filed by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), which questioned her qualifications.

Court: Guo Assumed False Identity to Run for Public Office

The court found that Guo is "undoubtedly" Guo Hua Ping, a Chinese national born to Chinese parents, and entered the Philippines in 1999 under an investor visa as a dependent.

Evidence showed Guo had used the identity “Alice Leal Guo”, claiming to be born in Tarlac in 1986. However, her birth certificate was only registered in 2005, when she was already 19. Records of her supposed Filipino parents, Angelito Guo and Amelia Leal, were also non-existent in civil registries.

Key forensic evidence from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) confirmed that her fingerprints matched those of Guo Hua Ping. The court ruled this fingerprint evidence as “infallible and faultless,” backing the claim that Guo faked her identity.

Legal Consequences and National Security Concerns

Judge Liwliwa Hidalgo-Bucu ruled that Guo’s election in 2022 does not legitimize her post, as she never qualified to run in the first place. She was found guilty of usurping the powers of the Office of the Mayor and was immediately disqualified.

The court emphasized the threat to national security, saying Guo was able to gain power by posing as a Filipino and bypassing constitutional requirements. It stated that the situation is more than just a legal issue—it’s a security risk.

Senate Reaction and Call for Further Action

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian supported the court’s ruling, saying it affirms longstanding suspicions about Guo’s citizenship. He urged the government to fully pursue all legal actions against her and prevent her from owning land.

Gatchalian also called for an investigation into individuals who may have enabled or protected Guo, warning that foreign nationals should never be allowed to manipulate public institutions.

What's Next

With the court decision now final, Alice Guo has been stripped of her post and may face additional legal charges. The OSG, with help from the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), gathered documents and presented key witnesses to support the case.

The ruling closes one chapter in a case that has drawn widespread public attention and may open the door for more probes into identity fraud and foreign interference in local governance.