HONTIVEROS SLAMS GOV’T OFFICERS FOR TURNING ALICE GUO’S ARREST INTO ‘FAN MEET’

SENATE Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Friday slammed gov’t officers for turning dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo’s arrest into a “fan meet.”

Hontiveros was reacting to photos of officials with Guo when she was turned over to Philippine authorities after her arrest in Indonesia, where she went into hiding.

Agents from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) posed for selfies with Guo.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos and Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Marbil were also seen smiling in photos with Guo, who flashed two peace signs. The photos went viral, drawing criticisms from netizens.

“We want answers, not a photoshoot. Matapos n’yang makipag-taguan sa batas, ginawa namang fan meet nitong si Alice Guo ang pagkakaaresto n’ya. Kulang na lang, red carpet,” Hontiveros said.

“Isang paalala rin sa ating mga kasamahan sa gobyerno, hindi dapat ginagawang social event ang pag-aresto sa isang puganteng sangkot sa patung-patong na kaso ng human trafficking, money laundering, fake identity, gross misconduct, illegal recruitment and detention, at corruption,” she further said.

“Pinaglaruan ni Alice Guo ang mga batas ng Pilipinas at ginamit niya ang posisyon niya para makapag-operate ang mga POGO na naging sangkot sa kidnapping, murder, human trafficking, at prostitution,” the senator added.

Hontiveros, who is leading the Senate investigation into illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) linked to Guo, said the former mayor will have her moment in the spotlight come Monday’s hearing in the Senate.

“Tingnan natin kung gaano sya ka-photogenic sa hearing sa Lunes. Unli pictures s’ya roon,” said Hontiveros.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian questioned the professionalism of the law enforcement personnel who took selfies with Guo, saying their agencies should not let this pass.

“Talagang hindi maganda na nagpapa-selfie at ipino-post pa sa social media ng mga enforcer ang pictures na kasama nila ang isang kriminal. Hindi pwede palagpasin ng mga enforcement agencies natin ang ganitong asal,” Gatchalian said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. defended gov’t officials for taking selfies with Guo.

“I think that is part of the new culture now na nagpapakuha lagi ng kahit ano kasi ipo-post nila— ‘Tingnan mo, oh, kasama ako sa team na umaresto sa ganyan, ganyan,” Marcos said.

“We are the Selfie Capital of the World, ‘di ba? ‘Di nag-selfie. Hndi mo naman mapigilan ang tao na ngumiti. So they just had a selfie. I don’t think there’s much more to it than that,” the President added.

Meanwhile, Gatchalian urged Guo to come clean about her involvement in illegal POGO operations in Bamban, warning that any further attempts to lie or cover for her associates could lead to harsher penalties.

Guo faces a Senate hearing on Monday, where she will be asked to explain her role in illegal POGO activities.