President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. belied reports that the Philippine government agreed on a prisoner swap with Indonesia in exchange for the deportation of former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.
Per reports, in return for sending Guo back to the Philippines, Indonesia wanted Gregor Johan Haas, an Australian arrested in Bogo, Cebu due to a red notice issued by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL).
Haas allegedly attempted to smuggled a shipment of floor ceramics filled with more than five kilograms of methamphetamine, also known as shabu, into Indonesia.
"Well, wala naman nag-swap. Walang swap," President Marcos told reporters on Friday, September 6.
Early Friday, Guo, accompanied by Department of Interior and Local Government Sec. Benhur Abalos and Philippine National Police chief PGen. Rommel Marbil, returned to the Philippines after her arrest in Indonesia last Tuesday, September 3.
Guo has been linked to an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) that authorities raided last March in Bamban, and she also faces cases for graft, money laundering, as well as human trafficking.
President Marcos credited the extradition of Guo to the good relationship between Philippines and Indonesia.
"It wasn’t simple at all. We were negotiating very intricate, very sensitive, and very delicate details for the last what, maybe 48 hours. Kinakausap natin mga kaibigan natin sa Indonesia," President Marcos said.
"Mabuti na lang marami tayong naging kaibigan na dahil sa pagpunta-punta ko sa mga iba’t ibang bansa, Indonesia being one of them at maging malapit kami ni President Jokowi," he added,
