MANILA, Philippines – Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said on Saturday, September 7, that he will provide dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo the “best protection” for as long as she tells all in court and when she again faces the Senate panel investigating illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGOs) beginning Monday, September 9.
Abalos said this at the Saturday News Forum on Saturday, September 7, on Guo’s arrest in Indonesia, her deportation to the Philippines, and other related issues.
Responding to questions, Abalos said that as soon as Guo saw him in Indonesia, she requested a private meeting, which was also attended by Philippine National Police chief General Rommel Marbil and three Indonesian police officers. Abalos said that Guo talked about “malalaking tao” (prominent people) and that she feared for her safety as she received death threats.
“Sabi ko kay Alice, simple lang. ‘Alice kung sino man itong mga taong ito na papatay sa iyo, we will assure you, ‘yung security mo we will give it to you, sabihin mo lang sa Senado, sabihin mo lang sa korte lahat ng nalalaman mo. Lahat,’” he said.
(I told Alice, it’s simple. “Alice, whoever these people are who want you dead, we will assure you that we will provide you security for as long as you tell the Senate, the court, everything that you know. Everything.)
Asked whether her assurance of protecting Guo in exchange for revealing the truth was part of some form of legal arrangement or plea bargain, Abalos clarified that it was just his personal assurance to Guo.
“As far as the [PNP] chief is concerned, as far as I am concerned, we will give you the best protection for your life,” he said, referring to Guo, adding that “life is sacred.”
Guo is under PNP custody as she opted not the post bail for graft charges when she appeared before Capas, Tarlac Regional Trial Court Branch 109 on Friday, September 6. The court granted the request of Senator Risa Hontiveros for Guo to appear at the Senate hearing on Monday.
Wesley Guo surrender ‘in the works’
Abalos also confirmed that Guo’s brother, Wesley Guo, planned to surrender, as earlier shared by the Guos’ lawyer Stephen David.
“Inaayos na rin namin ‘yan (We’re also working on that) — DILG, PNP, and the other camp,” he said, but declined to give more details.
“We’re asking Wesley, sumurender ka na rin. Kita mo naman importante, safe ka dito, maganda ang proseso ng Pilipinas. You have to face the Senate hearing, the court here. Maganda ang democratic process natin, our justice system. And we will just make sure na walang papatay sa iyo as far as I’m concerned,” the DILG chief added.
(We’re asking Wesley, surrender as well. As you can see, the Philippines has a good process. You have to face the Senate hearing, the court here. We have a good democratic process, our justice system. And we will make sure that you will not be killed, as far as I’m concerned.)
Responding to questions, Abalos said that if Wesley does not surrender, his arrest was just a matter of time considering his narrowing room for escape.
“Maliit na ang iniikutan niya, mahuhuli at mahuhuli siya. Ganoon lang ‘yun kasimple. Maliit na ang kuwarto para magtago pa siya. Solid ang ating relasyon sa ibang bansa lalo na sa ASEAN,” he said.
(His world is getting smaller, he will be caught. It’s that simple. There’s little room for him to hide. Our relationship with other nations, especially in ASEAN, is solid.)
Wesley is also the subject of the Senate arrest order for skipping the hearings on POGOs.
During the Saturday briefing, Abalos reiterated his appealed to the public not to judge him just by “one photo,” referring to the viral photo of him, Guo, and Marbil looking chummy as they sat side by side in Indonesia. (READ: Inside Alice Guo’s deportation: A rushed flight, 1 pm deadline)
He said that for him, what was important is that it was “mission accomplished.”
“Naibalik namin siya (She was brought back) — that’s the most important thing. For me, that is the most important thing. If you are going to judge my character just with one picture, ‘wag naman ganoon (don’t be like that).
He said the photo was only taken for documentation purpose, not for public release, and that he was not aware that Guo had made peace signs for the photo. – Rappler.com