PNP apologizes over friendly photos with Alice Guo

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday apologized over the friendly pictures of its chief Police General Rommel Marbil with dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo during her deportation from Indonesia.

“Kung meron mang na-offend, kung meron mang hindi nagustuhan po 'yun ay humihingi tayo ng pasensya (If anyone was offended and did not like it, we apologize),” PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said in a press briefing.

Fajardo said Marbil as well as Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos have no intention to offend anyone with the photos.

“I'm sure SILG and Chief PNP ay aware naman po sa mga naririnig. There was no intention on their part to offend anyone,” Fajardo said.

(I'm sure the SILG and Chief PNP are aware of the comments from the public. There was no intention on their part to offend anyone.)

“It's normal for anyone siguro kapag kinukuhanan ng picture nag-i-smile naman but it does not necessarily follows that parang ang pinapalabas po, that are putting malice doon po sa pagpo-pose po ni Alice Guo with them on that picture,” she added.

(It's normal for anyone when a picture is taken, they smile, but it doesn't necessarily follow that there was a malice behind Alice Guo’s pose with them on that picture.)

Marbil and Abalos personally went to Jakarta to work on the deportation of Guo, who was nabbed by Indonesian authorities in Tangerang City.

Guo is facing human trafficking and money laundering complaints in the Philippines.

Following her turnover to Philippines authorities, Guo had a conversation with the two officials.

Abalos said the photo that went viral was taken for documentation purposes. He pointed out 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.

(Alice requested to talk with us because she said she had death threats and I assured her that she should not worry about it. The important thing is that she tells the truth, everything.)

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

(The photo was for documentation. I don't know what she's doing, of course I'm looking at the camera.)

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, on the other hand, instructed officials to issue show cause orders against the government agents who took photos and selfies with Guo.

Earlier in the day, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said he sees nothing wrong with taking selfie photos with Guo after senators called out Philippine government agents who posed for such pictures with her.

Speaking to reporters, Marcos expressed belief that there's more to taking photos with Guo.

"I think that is part of the new culture now na nagpapakuha ng kahit ano kasi po-pose nila, tingnan mo, oh nakasama ko sa team na nag-aaresto..." he said.

(I think that is part of the new culture now, that we ask for any photo. When they pose for shots, [it's like they're saying,] look, I'm part of the arresting team.)

"Ang tawag natin sa Pilipinas, we are the selfie capital of the world 'di ba? Oh 'di nag-selfie, eh, hindi mo naman pigilan ang tao na ngumiti... They just had a selfie, I don't think there's more to it than that," he added.

(We are called the selfie capital of the world, right? When we have selfies, we can't stop a person from smiling... They just had a selfie, I don't think there's more to it than that.)—AOL, GMA Integrated News