MANILA — Alice Guo explained to Philippine authorities on Thursday that she fled the country due to fear for her safety amidst an ongoing investigation against her.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos said Guo shared this explanation when they first met in Jakarta after her arrest in Tangerang City, Banten Province, Indonesia.
“The first thing I asked her was, ‘Why did you hide? What happened?’ She told me she was scared. She mentioned certain bad people and concerns about her security. I told her, ‘Next time, don’t leave,'” Abalos said in an interview with Teleradyo Serbisyo.
“Sabi niya nahirapan daw siyang magtago, hindi na raw siya uulit ng ganun,” Abalos added, referring to Guo’s difficulty while in hiding.
(Guo told me that she struggled with hiding and said she wouldn’t do it again.)
In a video shared by Abalos on his Facebook page, Guo can be heard saying, “Sec, patulong, may death threat po kasi ako” (Help me, Secretary. I have a death threat).
Abalos led the Philippine team that coordinated with Indonesian authorities to secure Guo’s return after she fled the Philippines in July. Guo was transferred to the custody of Philippine officials on Thursday, and they are expected to arrive in the country before midnight.
“Pagdating niya [sa Pilipinas], mayroon kaming kasong isinampa sa DILG, kako just face the music kung anong demanda sa iyo dapat harapin mo,” Abalos said.
Upon her return, Guo will face proceedings with the Bureau of Immigration and the National Bureau of Investigation before being turned over to Senate custody, where she has an outstanding arrest warrant.