Time to buckle down to work after ‘selfies’ apologies
IF a picture is worth a thousand words, I would say that it is time for all to buckle down to work after spending hours just to criticize the photos and “selfies” taken when dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo was transferred by Indonesian authorities to the custody of the Philippine government on Thursday night.
President Bongbong Marcos himself had said taking photos with Guo is only part of the “new culture,” especially as the Philippines has been tagged as the “Selfie Capital of the World.”
“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,” the Commander-in-Chief said.
So right, Mr. President. Everybody should also know that our country has been touted not only as the “selfie capital of the world” but also home to the two top “selfiest cities in the world” which is Makati and Pasig cities.
Administration critics naturally have feasted on the “selfies” between some NBI-Immigration officials who helped fetch Guo as well as her photo with DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos and PNP chief General Rommel Marbil where she was seen flashing a wide smile and the peace sign.
PNP spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo however apologized over the friendly pictures of Gen. Marbil and Sec. Abalos with Guo during her deportation from Indonesia. “Kung meron mang na-offend, kung meron mang hindi nagustuhan po ‘yun ay humihingi tayo ng pasensya,” she said.
The official emphasized that Gen. Marbil and Sec. Abalos have no intention to offend anyone with the photos. “I’m sure SILG and Chief PNP ay aware naman po sa mga naririnig. There was no intention on their part to offend anyone,” she said.
“It’s normal for anyone siguro kapag kinukuhanan ng picture nag-i-smile naman but it does not necessarily follows that parang ang pinapalabas po, that are putting malice doon po sa pagpo-pose po ni Alice Guo with them on that picture,” Col. Fajardo added.
Sec. Abalos, a May 2025 “senatoriable” also said the photo that went viral was taken for documentation purposes and pointed out he was unaware that Guo was posing candidly when the photo was being taken.
“Nag-request si Alice na kausapin kami ni Chief and sinabi talaga na meron siyang death threats and in-assure ko siya na death threats ‘wag niyang alalahanin. Ang importante sabihin niya ang totoo, lahat, the DILG chief said.
“Pina-document namin, para malinaw ito. Hindi ko naman alam kung anong ginagawa niya, siyempre nakatingin ako sa camera,” Abalos likewise said.
However, a DOJ official, apparently unaware that President Marcos sees nothing wrong with taking “selfie” with Guo, revealed that Justice Secretary Boying Remulla has instructed his officials to issue “show cause orders” against the NBI and BI agents who took photos and selfies with Guo.
DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano IV said Remulla “instructed certain officials to give a show cause order to those that are involved in these pictures for them to be given a chance to explain.”
“But the explanations will be taken into consideration; due process will
be given to them,” Clavano said. The DOJ spokesperson added that the NBI-BI agents “were simply expressing or celebrating the small win” although he noted that it was also not an excuse for them to post the photos. NBI Director Jimmy Santiago also said he believes his men were “simply celebrating their victory.”
“Kaya siguro paalala lang din po sa ating law enforcement agencies that there is still much to do in this case, in an investigation, in the cases that are being charged of Alice Guo. So perhaps it was inappropriate to post those pictures, but it was a moment that was, I guess, that we could be proud of. But again, the job is not yet done,” Clavano said.
Simply put, while the President had shrugged off the anger directed at officials who were photographed with, or had ‘selfies’ with Guo, critics of his administration specifically the DILG-PNP are now having a good time bashing the officials who fetched Guo from Indonesia.
One lawmaker described the act as “so unprofessional” while another said Guo should not be treated like a celebrity as she is a fugitive from law and accused of human trafficking.
You really can’t win them all. However, I still remember those days when prominent figures including top government officials, lawmakers, law enforcement officials, government workers and the media also had “souvenir photos” with plunderers or captured terrorists and major criminals just to tell the whole world they saw them in person.
Just for souvenir’s sake as they say. But the job of finding out who benefited from Guo’s activities and who helped her flee the country is just starting. It’s really time for our law enforcers and lawmakers to buckle down to work.
