Abalos explains viral photo with Alice Guo

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos on Friday explained his and Philippine National Police chief Police General Rommel Marbil's photo with dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Alice Guo in Indonesia.

In a press briefing upon their arrival in the Philippines from Indonesia with Guo, Abalos said the photo, which has gone viral and criticized by many netizens, was taken for documentation purposes. It shows him and Marbil with a candid-looking Guo sitting between them.

According to Abalos, Guo, who is facing human trafficking and money laundering complaints in the Philippines, had asked to speak with them about the death threats that she received. He added that he was unaware that Guo was posing candidly when the photo was being taken.

"Nag-request si Alice na kausapin kami ni chief and sinabi talaga na meron siyang death threats and in-assure ko siya na death threats 'wag niyang alalahanin, ang importante sabihin niya ang totoo, lahat,"said Abalos.

"Pina-document namin, para malinaw ito, hindi ko naman alam kung anong ginagawa niya, siyempre nakatingin ako sa camera," he added.

Senator Joel Villanueva on Thursday called out Philippine officials for taking pictures including "selfies" with Guo when she was turned over by Indonesian authorities to Philippine law enforcement agencies.

"So unprofessional," Villanueva said in a Viber message to reporters.

"Seriously, do you want to take a picture with this treacherous fugitive!" he added.

In a separate statement, Senator Risa Hontiveros said Guo should not be treated like a celebrity after some government workers had their photos taken with her.

“Paalala lalo na sa mga kawani ng gobyerno: Si Alice Guo ay pugante. May kasong human trafficking. Hindi po ‘yan celebrity,” the senator said.

Guo, 33, was ordered arrested by the Senate in July for repeatedly failing to attend the investigation into the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Bamban, Tarlac.

Authorities also filed a complaint, which was submitted for in August, against Guo and others for alleged human trafficking in connection to the raided POGO hub.

The dismissed mayor is also facing a deportation case from the Bureau of Immigration and 87 counts of money laundering. — BAP, GMA Integrated News