Is Abalos worthy of all that credit?

On Sunday, Sept. 8, beleaguered pastor Apollo Quiboloy turned himself over to the authorities after a two-week manhunt led by the Philippine National Police. This, after years of being hunted for his transnational crimes, particularly those committed in the United States that earned him a Federal Bureau of Investigation warrant. As of this writing, he has been presented to the media, his entire face covered out of legal protocol and not because of shame.

Days before his surrender (or capture, as some quarters insist), the nation was in great shock and relief as fugitive ex-town mayor Alice Guo also surrendered to Philippine authorities after escaping to Jakarta to evade her crimes in connection to Philippine offshore gaming operators. Guo was flown back to Manila, armed with a shameless smile.

But some concerning details have occurred to me: Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. was front and center in securing photo opportunities and press conferences in Guo’s arrest. He was with her in that now-notorious picture of her surrender, the disgraced mayor all smiles and now of celebrity status, having been compared to Shancai of “Meteor Garden” fame in social media memes.

Abalos was also among the first source of news about Quiboloy’s arrest, his Facebook post on Sept. 8 announcing the conclusion to the manhunt by authorities, complete with a picture of Quiboloy and his lawyer, Israelito Torreon. With no further details given, Abalos seemed to have gotten credit for the operation’s success. But I can’t wrap my head around it. Really, it’s a bizarre thought as to why Abalos was front and center in these victories.

Shouldn’t both arrests be attributed to two main branches of government that deserve unending praise and due recognition? The PNP and law enforcement agencies should primarily take credit for these wins. Their tireless efforts and intelligence operations allowed them to do their job in accordance with the law. The Senate, too, must be given praise for exposing these two fugitives and their crimes in the plenary hall. Ignoring threats and backlash, the senators did their duty to serve the country through their investigations that must be applauded and given acclaim. Theatrics notwithstanding, the hearings allowed the public to become aware of the grave crimes Guo and Quiboloy have committed.

Given this information, Abalos should take less credit for his role as head of a government agency. His personal trips and musings do not match the work done by other organizations that led to the two fugitives’ arrest. His own political show increased his stature and prominence on a national scale.

My apologies to the good secretary; I understand that his role requires his presence in the operations. However, despite his good work, I beg to ask; is his shameless persona enough to allow pride over the arrests of Guo and Quiboloy? Or is he now trying to test his political chances as he vies for a national post in the elections next year?

Rolando O. Ng III,

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