No special treatment for Alice Guo, Abalos clarifies

MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Franciso Marbil took a chartered flight to Jakarta to escort Alice Guo, which the Department of the Interior and Local Government chief said was at no cost to the government.

Abalos said the aircraft was owned by his friend. The DILG chief stressed there was no special treatment given to the dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor.

“Right now, she (Guo) has a mugshot, she is now in jail. No cellphone, no aircon. Just like an ordinary detainee,” Abalos said on Friday, September 7.

He added the controversial photo with Guo was taken during their private meeting where the dismissed mayor informed them that she was receiving death threats.

Abalos said he had asked for the picture to be taken as proof they had apprehended her but did not realize the former mayor was posing for the camera. “There was no selfie or anything,” Abalos said.

Asked whether government personnel should be barred from taking selfies with Guo, Abalos said “it should really be like that,” adding “the impropriety was already there.”

He asked the public not to dwell on the photos but on the arrest of Guo, who is being linked to criminal activities involving Philippine offshore gaming operators or POGOs

“Be that is it may, this is the important thing, I’ve done my best, mission accomplished – I brought Alice Guo back,” Abalos said. — Emmanuel Tupas, Mark Ernest Villeza, Romina Cabrera, Sheila Crisostomo