Dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo meets DILG Secretary Abalos in Jakarta on Sep. 5, 2024 following her arrest. Courtesy: PNP

MANILA — Alice Guo felt scared and unsafe in the Philippines so she decided to flee and seek refuge in other countries amid an ongoing investigation against her, she told Philippine authorities Thursday.

• TIMELINE: Alice Guo's secret escape from PH and arrest in Indonesia

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos said that is what Guo told him when they met for the first time in Jakarta following her arrest in Tangerang City in the province of Banten.  

• Alice Guo arrested in Indonesia

"Ang unang katagang sinabi ko, 'Bakit ka nagtago? Anong nangyari sa iyo?' Ang sinabi niya natakot siya. May mga sinabi siyang mga bagay-bagay, masasamang tao, about her security. Kaya ang sabi ko sa kanya, next time wag ka ng umalis," Abalos told Teleradyo Serbisyo.

(The first thing I asked her is why did she hide from us? She said she was scared. She mentioned about bad people, about her security. I told her don't do this again.)

"Sabi niya nahirapan daw siyang magtago, hindi na raw siya uulit ng ganun," he added.

(Guo told me that she was having a hard time hiding and said she would never do it again.)

In a video uploaded by Abalos on his Facebook page, Guo could be heard saying: "Sec, patulong, may death threat po kasi ako." (Help me, secretary. I have a death threat.)

Abalos led the Philippine team that sought to recover Guo from Indonesian authorities, who successfully arrested the former mayor after escaping the Philippines in July. 

• DILG, PNP chiefs arrive in Jakarta to meet Alice Guo

Indonesian authorities transferred Guo to the custody of Philippine officials on Thursday. They are set to arrive in the Philippines before midnight.

"Pagdating niya [sa Pilipinas], mayroon kaming kasong isinampa sa DILG, kako just face the music kung anong demanda sa iyo dapat harapin mo," Abalos said.

• Alice Guo, siblings fled Philippines via 'small boat': sister

Upon her return, Guo would undergo proceedings at the Bureau of Immigration and the National Bureau of Investigation. She would then be turned over to the Senate custody, where she has an outstanding arrest warrant.

RELATED VIDEO