President Marcos: No official request for prisoner swap from Indonesia

MANILA, Philippines — There was no official request from the Indonesian government for a prisoner swap in exchange for dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo’s extradition to the country, President Marcos clarified yesterday.

Marcos made the remarks to address reports that Indonesia demanded Gregor Johann Haas, an Australian man wanted by Jakarta for alleged drug smuggling, in exchange for Guo.

“There was no swap,” the President said. “Because an article came out in Indonesia that there should be a swap. But that was not official.”  

The Bureau of Immigration arrested Haas on May 15 in Bogo, Cebu. 

Marcos, however, admitted that Guo’s return to the country “was not that simple.” 

“We were negotiating very intricate, very sensitive and very delicate details for the last – what, maybe 48 hours. We talked to our friends in Indonesia,” the Chief Executive said. 

Marcos said his trips to Indonesia have made him gain friends, who in turn helped in the return of Guo.

“Fortunately, we have made many friends because of me going back and forth – going to different countries, Indonesia being one of them and President Jokowi (Joko Widodo) and I becoming close,” he said. 

“That was part of the reason why even though the transfer was not that simple, we were able to talk to our friends in Indonesia to let the Philippines take her (Guo) and bring her home to the Philippines,” Marcos said.

Guo was arrested by Indonesian police at Cendana Parc Residences at Tangerang City in Banten province on Sept. 3 after months of evading Philippine authorities. 

Meanwhile, Indonesia’s top diplomat in the Philippines confirmed discussions for the deportation of Haas after the arrest of Guo.

Ambassador Agus Widjojo said the deportation of Haas, an alleged member of the notorious Sinaloa cartel, was discussed between Philippine and Indonesian authorities in Jakarta before the handover of Guo to Philippine officials.

“I think there are some things from the part of the Philippines that they have to fulfill administrative requirements that requires time. So I think that was part of the talks in Jakarta in which I have no information in details,” Widjojo told The STAR on the sidelines of the Indonesia National Day reception on Thursday.

“He did his criminal offense in Indonesia. So I think it is just logical that we would like to see him follow the due process of the law in Indonesia,” he said. — Pia Lee-Brago