Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. defended Friday a photo of him with dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo after she was turned over to Philippine authorities in Jakarta Thursday.

Abalos, who was pictured with Guo and Philippine National Police chief Rommel Marbil, said the dismissed mayor had just told them that she had received death threats when Marbil asked if he could record their conversation.

Guo refused but gamely posed when a staffer took their photo for documentation. Photos of a smiling Guo with Philippine officials in Jakarta have been criticized as being inappropriate.

Fan meet? Alice Guo explains why she was 'happy' in selfies with PH authorities

“Nakatingin kami sa camera pero hindi namin alam na nagpapa-cute siya. Hindi namin alam na ganun,” Abalos said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.

The DILG chief said he and Marbil had to rush to Jakarta early Thursday after they were given a 1 a.m. deadline by Indonesian authorities to secure Guo or she would be released.

He said he borrowed the private plane of a close friend so he and Marbil could go to Jakarta quickly.

“Kung hindi kami makakapunta, baka pakawalan eh…Kung hindi namin makukuha, kahiya-hiya naman,” he said, adding that a commercial flight back would be unfeasible since Guo was in handcuffs.

Guo, who is facing money laundering, trafficking and graft and corruption charges in connection with her alleged ties with illegal offshore operations, was arrested by Indonesian police in Tangerang City last Tuesday.

Authorities said Guo’s arrest was part of a sweep to remove possible threats ahead of Pope Francis’ visit to Jakarta. 

She is currently detained in the PNP custodial facility in Camp Crame.