MANILA, Philippines – “A mockery of the Filipino people,” social media users said on Friday, September 6, in describing how government officials treated dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo during her arrest and deportation to the Philippines
Users criticized Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos for treating Guo with “so much deference” and even posing for photos with her.
Netizens also wondered aloud why Abalos even had conversation with Guo, who asked him for protection because of “death threats,” despite her Senate-issued warrant of arrest for skipping the Senate hearings on illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators. She also faces graft charges and multiple complaints, including human trafficking and money laundering.
Abalos later denied that he was giving any special treatment to Guo, and called the comments “unfair.”
Veteran journalist Lynda Jumilla-Abalos, meanwhile, asked why officials decided to charter a flight to bring back Guo to the Philippines. She also suggested that the flight be charged to Guo’s frozen assets.
Social media users said the treatment of Guo is a reflection of the Philippine justice system, comparing it to how law enforcers arrest activists and government critics.
Filipinos online were also disturbed by Guo’s demeanor following her arrest.
“Talagang mapagkakatiwalaan pa ba ang national authority kung makikita ang isang fugitive na ganito ka-comfortable matapos mahuli? Kadiri,” X user @echoechonames said.
(Can we really trust our national authorities if we see that a fugitive is feeling comfortable after getting caught? Disgusting.)
Guo arrived in the country past 1 am on Friday, in a private hangar in Pasay after Indonesian authorities arrested her. She was ordered arrested by a Tarlac court for graft charges. – With reports from Patricia Kahanap/Rappler.com