The supposed success story in the hunt against dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo was clouded by her controversial photo with two of the ranking officials of the Philippine government.
On Sunday, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo apologized anew and narrated the story behind the photo which went viral on social media.
in an interview over dzBB, Fajardo said that when Guo was turned over to the Philippine authorities in Indonesia, her first request was for an exclusive meeting with Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos and PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil.
Abalos and Marbil went to Indonesia to personally oversee the transfer of custody of Guo to Philippine authorities after she was arrested in Tangerang City.
It was during that meeting that Guo told Abalos and Marbil of the death threat she has been receiving.
This was the reason, according to her, why she decided to go out of the country.
But during the meeting, there was a decision to document it and it was then that an official photographer was asked to take a photo of the three.
“It’s normal for us to smile whenever we or somebody take a photo of us,” said Fajardo in explaining why Abalos and Marbil were seen smiling.
“But they are not aware that she (Guo) made a cute pose,” she added.
While the photo was supposed to be for documentation, it was not immediately clear how it leaked and was uploaded on social media.
As a result, the photo went viral and both Abalos and Marbil were ridiculed and bashed on social media for having a photo opportunity with a “fugitive”.
“”We apologize to the people who were offended by that photo,” said Fajardo.
Guo is wanted by the Senate for non-appearance in the investigation on the illegal operation of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), which stemmed from a raid on an alleged POGO hub in Bamban town.
The DILG filed cases against her which resulted in her dismissal. Two cases of graft are now pending before a court in Capas, Tarlac.
While the two cases are bailable, Guo opted not to post bail and she is currently detained at the PNP Custodial Center at Camp Crame in Quezon City.