Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. stood firm on Friday, September 6, that no "selfie" was taken when he and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil fetched dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo in Indonesia, contrary to public perception.
In an interview upon their return to the country, Abalos clarified that he was looking straight at the camera, totally unaware that Guo was making cute poses when the picture was taken for documentation purposes.
“Let me clarify. Noong aming nakuha si Alice (When we had Alice), we asked for a private meeting between me and Gen. Marbil. So we went to this room, kasama 'yung mga Indonesian (with the Indonesians)," Abalos explained.
In the said meeting, Abalos stated that Guo claimed receiving death threats. Marbil requested that the conversation be recorded, which the dismissed Bamban mayor refused, but a camera was already taking photos for documentation.
"At that point, parang may kumuha ng (someone took a) picture to have it documented. So we looked at the camera, tumingin kami (we looked at it). Siyempre, pagdating ng ganyan, wala akong alam ginagawa nito eh nagpapacute pala (I wasn't aware that she was making cute poses)," the DILG chief noted.
When informed of the supposed public’s outrage of the perceived selfie taken with a fugitive, Abalos stood firm on his position that no such thing occurred with the photo being an "offshoot" of the meeting that was documented, totally clueless that Guo was making any form of poses.
“So I hope, sabi ko nga, sana maunawaan ng mga kababayan. It was never a selfie na nagpaselfie ganyan, ganyan. This is taken habang nag-usap kayo about things na sinasabi ka sa akin (like I said, I hope that the public will understand. It was never a selfie or any kind of that matter. This is taken while things were being sorted out and being told to me)," he added.
Abalos also shared details of the arrangement plan for the escorting of Guo from Indonesia back to the Philippines.
He asserted that there was no guarantee that Guo will be successfully returned to Manila when they went to Jakarta: “Nothing at all.’’
Prior to their departure for Indonesia, Abalos recounted being in Naga, Camarines Sur when he was told to proceed to the airport at 1 a.m. with the possibility of Guo being released.
“So I had to find isang eroplano to bring us there [Indonesia]. Nakihiram na lang ako [airplane] sa kaibigan ko. Kasi if you're going to take a commercial flight, maraming.... siyempre, pag-uwi mo, saan mo siya isasakay, etc. (So I had to find an airplane to bring us there. I just borrowed one from a friend. Because if you are going to take a commercial flight, you have to worry about many things. Upon your return, where will you board her, etc.)," Abalos emphasized.
Abalos said that the government spent not a single centavo on the borrowed plane.
Upon their arrival in Indonesia, Abalos said they negotiated with local authorities, thinking that it will be a shame if they cannot bring Guo back to the Philippines.
“So and the rest is history. Napapayag natin ang indonesian. After a one hour meeting, naiuwi namin siya (We convinced the Indonesians. After a one hour meeting, we brought her back to the country),’’ Abalos pointed out.
When Guo was presented by Indonesian authorities, Abalos said that Guo claimed to know him, remembering later that as DILG chief, a governor organized meetings with the Tarlac mayors.
The DILG chief asserted that the important thing is that Guo is now in the custodial center of Camp Crame.
Arrival at the airport
Upon alighting from the airplane, Abalos said that Guo was handcuffed, had a mugshot taken and made to wear a DILG t-shirt, explaining that a search warrant and warrant of arrest were issued leading the DILG to file cases that were approved by the Ombudsman.
Abalos maintained that no special treatment was provided to Guo.
"There are no special treatments. Right now, may mugshot siya, nakakulong siya ngayon sa kulungan (she had her mugshot taken and she is held in jail), no cellphone, no aircon just like an ordinary detainee," Abalos said.