Senators fume over ‘selfies’ with Alice Guo

MANILA, Philippines — Senators yesterday expressed outrage over viral photos of government officials – including the country’s police chief and secretary of the interior – having selfies with a visibly relaxed and cheerful Alice Guo in Indonesia before she was brought back to Manila.

But President Marcos shrugged off the chorus of indignation, mostly on social media, over the incident, saying Filipinos were generally happy people.

“You can’t stop them from smiling,” Marcos said in an interview in Antipolo, Rizal, in reaction to the backlash over the viral images of officials seemingly engaging the dismissed mayor of Bamban, Tarlac in friendly banter.

“I think that is part of the new culture now – to take any pictures and post them – ‘see, I was part of the team (that picked up Guo),’ ” Marcos said.

“They just had a selfie. I don’t think there’s much more to it than that,” he said, as he reminded the public that the Philippines is considered the “selfie capital of the world.”

The President admonished Guo to stop being evasive and just address allegations against her.

People turned to social media to express their dismay over photos showing officials – including Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Franciso Marbil and agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) – looking exuberant as they received Guo from Indonesian authorities late Thursday.

Senators frowned on the way officials treated Guo in Jakarta, as they reminded them that she is facing serious charges of money laundering and human trafficking.

Abalos and Marbil were photographed with Guo, who was all smiles as she flashed a double peace sign while inside the Indonesian police headquarters.

Netizens on X were also angered by a group photo of NBI agents with Guo – also known as Guo Hua Ping – inside a car on their way to the Jakarta airport.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who led the Senate investigation on Guo’s alleged illegal offshore gaming activities, castigated the officials for turning her arrest and surrender into a social media spectacle.

“We want answers, not a photoshoot. After hiding from authorities, Alice Guo turned her arrest into a fan-meet.