The Philippine National Police (PNP) issued an apology on Friday after images of its chief, Police General Rommel Marbil, and dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo during her deportation sparked controversy. The photos, which surfaced online, were seen by some as overly friendly, given Guo’s ongoing legal troubles.
PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo acknowledged the public’s reaction, stating, “If anyone was offended, we apologize.” She clarified that neither Marbil nor Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos intended to cause offense with the images.
Fajardo explained that smiling during photos is natural but emphasized there was no malicious intent. Abalos, who accompanied Marbil to Jakarta to facilitate Guo’s deportation, said the photo was purely for documentation. He assured the public that Guo had raised concerns about death threats and was encouraged to speak the truth.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also weighed in, downplaying the incident, attributing it to the prevalent selfie culture in the Philippines, and noted, “They just had a selfie, I don’t think there’s more to it than that.”
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla ordered show cause notices for officials involved in taking photos with Guo.