Fugitives' celebrity status

Last week, people criticized several government officials for taking selfies with dismissed Bamban, Tarlac, mayor Alice Guo. Authorities classified Guo as a fugitive after she fled the country during a Senate probe into her involvement in POGO operations. The selfies showed Guo in a cheerful manner, as if she was pleased to be found after her efforts to hide. In one photo, she was seen making a peace sign with each hand --a typical pose to show happiness.

The president quickly reacted, stating that taking selfies has become a culture, especially for operatives who have been on a mission to bring her home. To him, Filipinos share a common behavior, as we are dubbed the ‘Selfie capital of the world’. They felt a moment of relief and joy because they had finally found who they sought in another country. Such moments often warrant a selfie to commemorate the event and serve as concrete evidence. However, there are more respectful ways to present the story without using the culture card.

Similarly, someone documented the arrest of Kingdom of Jesus Christ Pastor Apollo Quiboloy over the weekend with a selfie. They pictured the fugitive with a half-smile and a thick scarf around his neck. As government employees, they should maintain proper decorum. There could be more dignified ways to document his arrest. A camera can tell many stories, especially when used appropriately. The available angle is not always a selfie or a quick snapshot, as the new generation might say. A camera can capture various perspectives.

While that issue seems to suffice with an apology, another concern is the treatment these fugitives might receive from state forces. People compare how authorities handle accused individuals from lower-income backgrounds with how they handle high-profile suspects. Officials assured us that they won’t give any special treatment. While I hope that promise holds true, I am more concerned about their security. If Guo mentioned a threat to her life as her reason for fleeing, someone on the inside might indeed be after her. The complexities of their illegal activities are now catching up with them. There are records of vigilantes gunning down many individuals even in maximum security facilities.

The government’s efforts to bring these two individuals back are commendable. For those in Davao, they endured significant ridicule and hardship to locate this man even underground. For those assigned to Indonesia, they had to use all available means to track her down after Guo's moving from one hotel to another. Now that both Guo and Quibology are now available to face the charges against them, I hope they will reveal the truth. Many suspected that the previous administration might have supported them in the past. We need to demand accountability for the actions done in those six years. It is high time someone must pay for the wrongdoings they have committed against the country and the Filipino people.