Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo may have found some peace of mind at the detention facility for high-profile inmates at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
On her first night at the detention cell which used to be occupied by former senator Leila de Lima, national police spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said Guo slept well and appeared to be comfortable inside.
“I asked her if she was able to rest well after all the procedures that she went through. She personally told me that she was able to sleep and that she’s okay,” said Fajardo in an interview over dzBB.
Guo arrived in Manila early morning of Friday, Sept. 6, following her deportation after her arrest in Tangerang City in Indonesia.
A press briefing was held at the Royal Star hangar in Pasay City immediately after her arrival wherein she was presented to the media. She later underwent booking procedures.
Later in the same day, she was taken to Capas, Tarlac where she is facing two counts of graft charges and was returned to Camp Crame in Quezon City after the court issued a commitment order designating the Custodial Center as her detention facility.
Fajardo earlier said that there will be no special treatment for Guo and in fact, she was not allowed to bring in any communication devices as part of the protocol for inmates.
The detention facility that was designated for Guo has its own comfort room, a bed and an electric fan.
Fajardo said all the inmates are being given the opportunity to go out to an open area inside the Custodial Center.
Hostage-taking
In 2022, de Lima was held hostage by one of the three Abu Sayyaf members who tried to escape.
De Lima survived the hostage-taking and the three Abu Sayyaf members were killed.
Amid security concerns that another hostage-taking incident may happen again, Fajardo said that all the security measures are already in place to prevent the repeat of the incident.
“We have a limited set up there and there are strict measures in place. We don’t want to compromise the building and the area where Alice Guo is staying is secured,” said Fajardo.
“She is the only person in the building and it is far from other detention facilities, especially from the detention cells of male inmates. There are policemen stationed there and there are also policemen manning the watchtowers 24 hours,” she added.