Outrage in Philippines over officials' photos with fugitive ex-mayor

Philippines Correspondent MANILA - Filipinos turned to social media to express their outrage after Philippine government officials and law enforcement agents meant to escort fugitive former mayor Alice Guo back to the country to face criminal charges casually posed for photos with her while processing her deportation.

- Mara Cepeda

Critics said it made a mockery of the Filipinos and was a cause for embarrassment, when Guo had evaded Philippine law enforcement agencies by fleeing to Malaysia, Singapore, and then Indonesia in mid-July despite ongoing investigations into her alleged crime links.

One of the officials involved, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr, later said he had asked for the picture to be taken as proof they had apprehended Guo, and did not realise she was posing for the camera.

The Indonesian authorities apprehended Guo, who is accused of having links to Chinese criminal syndicates, on Sept 3.

She arrived in the Philippines past lam on Sept 6, escorted by Mr Abalos and Police General Rommel Marbil, chief of the Philippine National Police, who took a chartered flight to Jakarta.

But Philippine social media feeds exploded hours before their arrival in the capital Manila, as the two high-ranking officials were pictured with Guo, who was all smiles as she gave a double "peace" sign while inside the Indonesian police's headquarters.

She was not handcuffed despite facing two arrest warrants one from the Philippine Senate issued in July for snubbing its investigation into her alleged criminal ties, and another from a local court for graft charges, issued after Guo's arrest on Sept 5.