A free climber known as the “French Spiderman” climbed a high-rise building in Makati City without a harness on Tuesday morning and was arrested by police after his dangerous feat.
According to Raffy Tima’s report on 24 Oras, Alain Roberts started ascending the 48-storey GT International Towers at around 8 a.m. on Tuesday.
This is the second time the famous urban free climber has climbed the said building. He had no safety equipment except for his climbing chalk.
Onlookers, including the building’s security, could do nothing except watch as the 61-year old Frenchman climbed the 10th tallest building in the country.
According to the Makati police, it was already 10 a.m. when someone called them to report the incident. When the climber came down, he was immediately arrested.
“Naalarma lahat yung mga kababayan natin dito sa Makati dahil sa ginawa niya na. Halos lahat, yung mga sasakyan umi-stop na lang para titingnan kaya naaresto po siya. ‘Yung police po natin will be filing a case of alarm and scandal,” said Makati City Chief of Police Police Colonel Edward Cutiyog.
(The citizens of Makati were alarmed because of what he did. Many vehicles stopped to watch him, so he was arrested. Our police will be filing a case of alarm and scandal.)
Emergency responders deployed an inflatable safety mat as a precaution. The police said such activities are prohibited because of the danger they pose, not only to those doing it but also to those at the bottom of the building.
“Kahit na sabihin natin na professional na climber, e kung walang kang supporter na gagamitin e pag nagkamali, mamamatay o tayo. So yung mga baguhan… bawal po ito, hindi puwede na gagawin po ito,” said Cutiyog.
(Even if he is considered a professional climber, he doesn’t have a supporter and if he makes a mistake, he might die or cause someone to die. So for beginners or those who want to climb, this type of activity is prohibited.)
Roberts was immediately taken to the Makati police headquarters and underwent a medical checkup and underwent processing.
The climber said he was roughly treated during his arrest, claiming he was handcuffed too tightly although he did not resist.
He said it was different from the way he was treated after his first climb in 2019.
“Last time I got an amazing experience in the Philippines when I got arrested in 2019 and this time I have been treated like a dog. I am 45-48 kilograms. I am a totally harmless person, why are you treating me like the worst criminal ever, that just doesn’t make sense,” Roberts said.
He said he even made the climb to support the Philippines in its fight over the issue of the West Philippine Sea.
“Philippines is a sovereign country so the islands, they are Filipinos they are not belonging to anyone else. I did it to support the Philippines but it looks like the Philippines didn’t support me much, well people yes I’m sure. Lot of people they love what I’m doing, I am inspiring people,” Roberts added.
As a result of this recent experience, the Frenchman said he will no longer climb any buildings in the Philippines.
He added that he’s about to retire, but he may do something surprising before the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Meanwhile, Makati police denied they mistreated Roberts and said many people even witnessed the arrest. Authorities said that although the ‘French Spiderman’ is famous internationally, he will not receive any special treatment.—Sherylin Untalan/RF, GMA Integrated News
