INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos explained that he had to immediately get a jet to fetch dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo to beat the deadline given by the Indonesian government.

In a statement posted at “Basta Abalos Ayos” group chat, Abalos said that Indonesia will release Guo if Philippine authorities could not make it at 1:00 in the morning of Friday.

The DILG secretary said he was in Naga when informed by PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil about the development at around 10 p.m. or just three hours from the given deadline.

“Kailangan umalis kaagad kami at makipag-usap sa Indonesia kung hindi ay papalayain si Alice Guo,” he said.

Fetching the controversial Bamban, Tarlac mayor on an exclusive jet, drew stirs from the social media.

A senator even chose a term “overkill” for how a fugitive was being treated.

Abalos said he had to take the quickest flight to be able to get there.

“From Naga then Camarines Sur diretso akong Manila. Then Indonesia (na delay ng 5 hrs dahil sa permit). We were at the airport at 6 pm, but because of a delay departed at 11pm & arrived in Jakarta at 3am.,” the DILG chief detailed.

In Indonesia, the police chief, according to Abalos, is a cabinet secretary, the reason why he went to the country to talk with the official to fetch Guo who is being sought by the Philippine government.

“Sa Pilipinas pa lang mula umaga hanggang hapon ay kausap ko ang Indonesian Amb. Pagdating sa Jakarta ay nakipag mtg kami ni CPNP Marbil at nakipag-usap ng halos 1 hour para maiuwi si alice Guo. After 1 hour ay pumayag na sila,” he pointed out.

At the Indonesian soil, Abalos said Guo requested to talk to him privately about the death threats she has been receiving and her reason of taking a flight.

“Nung nasa rooom na kami sinubukan ni Chief Marbil na i-tape for documentation purposes ang mga sasabihin ni Alice. Hindi pumayag si Alice na mai tape. Kaya may kumuha ng picture na lamang for documentation. Ako nakatingin sa camera, hindi ko naman alam na nagpa cute si Alice dahil hindi ako nakatingin sa kanya,” Abalos said.

The important thing he added, was they were able to take Guo back to the Philippine custody to face a string of cases filed against her to include a Senate contempt citation.