President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. firmly denied claims that Indonesia made any demands in exchange for handing over dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo to the Philippines.
The President clarified that the issue surfaced in an unofficial Indonesian newspaper and should not be considered an official stance.
However, Marcos admitted that Guo’s repatriation was not a simple process.
The President acknowledged that he had spoken with friends in Indonesia, and his recent visits to other countries strengthened his relationship with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, which helped facilitate Guo’s return to the Philippines.
Earlier reports suggested that Indonesia allegedly proposed a swap, asking for the extradition of Gregor Haas, an Australian wanted in Indonesia for drug trafficking, who was arrested in Cebu in May this year, in exchange for Guo.