Remulla wants explanation from agents in Alice Guo photos, selfies

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has instructed officials to issue show cause orders against the government agents who took photos and selfies with dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.

In a viral group photo, Guo was seen smiling while in the company of some agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Bureau of Immigration (BI) while she was being escorted to Indonesian immigration before her return to Manila on early Friday.

"The Secretary has already instructed certain officials to give a show cause order to those that are involved in these pictures for them to be given a chance to explain," Department of Justice spokesman Mico Clavano said.

"The explanations will be taken into consideration. Due process will be given to them, so it’s quite premature to say yet, no, kung ano ‘yung magiging hatol talaga dito sa behavior ng ating mga ahente," he added.

(It's quite premature to say what the decision will be about the behavior of our agents.)

Senator Risa Hontiveros, who is leading a Senate investigation into Guo's alleged ties to illegal criminal activities, said the former mayor should not be treated like a celebrity.

Senator Joel Villanueva called out these government agents for their "unprofessional" actions.

For his part, Clavano said it was “inappropriate” to post the pictures.

However, he maintained that Guo’s return to the country was a moment that authorities could be proud of.

“Again, I would like to reiterate na they were simply expressing or celebrating the small win that they were able to get. Again, it’s not an excuse for them to be posting these types of pictures or videos,” he said.

Earlier, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said he saw nothing wrong with taking selfie photos with Guo, noting that it was "part of the new culture now."

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police has apologized for the pictures, saying they had no intention to offend anyone.

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"Na-misconstrue lang 'yung kasiyahan namin na tagumpay tayo at tapos na aming paghihirap." — Dir. Jaime Santiago, National Bureau of Investigation pic.twitter.com/h8jymPA767

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) September 6, 2024

In a separate interview on Super Radyo dzBB, NBI Director Jaime Santiago also issued an apology.

"Humihingi po ako ng paumanhin sa ating mamamayan. Na-misconstrue lang po 'yung kasiyahan namin na tagumpay tayo at tapos na ang aming paghihirap," Santiago said.

(I apologize to our countrymen. Our joy over our success has been misconstrued. We were happy because we triumphed and our struggles were finally over.)

Santiago said it was a “natural human reaction” to be happy in victory.

Despite this, he said that he did not agree with the actions of the agents. He said he has asked them to report to him to debrief.

“Inuulit ko po, hindi ako sumasang ayon sa ganon. Kailangan maintain your professionalism. Seryoso ka lang dapat. Magkakaroon po kami ng debriefing, pinag re-report ko sa akin ‘yung ahente ko pagdating nila,” he said.

(I repeat, I don't agree with that. You need to maintain your professionalism. You have to maintain seriousness. We'll have a debriefing, and I am asking my agents to report to me once they arrive.)

BI Fugitive Search Unit chief Rendel Ryan Sy also apologized for the selfie of Immigration personnel with Guo.

Sy said the photo was only for a "sitrep" (situation report) but he was surprised when it leaked out and went viral on social media.

The BI official said it seems that the Immigration personnel were just relieved to have found Guo that is why they were smiling. —NB/ VDV/KG, GMA Integrated News