Alain Robert is no stranger to death-defying stunts, scaling the 43-story G.T. International Tower along Ayala Avenue free solo. The 61-year-old Frenchman descended from the 712-foot skyscraper last Tuesday, March 5, 2024, as local authorities were quick to apprehend the “French Spiderman,” transporting him to PNP’s Sub Station 6 precinct in Makati City.
Following a medical examination, he addressed the personnel on-site, mentioning his climb was intended to spread awareness of the recurring West Philippine Sea conflict, apart from it being a life-long hobby. Noting his stint to be “harmless” in nature, he defends his activist stance while understanding the repercussions of possible penalties for causing a public disturbance in the process.
“Because I have heard from quite sometimes that there is a problem in the Philippine, Philippine Sea, some islands that one of the country trying to take it from the Philippines, which is unfair because it is attacking your sovereignty,” Robert mentioned.
“Climbing a building is a small offense. I didn’t kill anyone, I didn’t rape anyone,” he added.
The French Spiderman’s 2024 stint marks a repeat of his 2019 climb, ascending the same establishment, though this time around with a country-based advocacy in mind. Throughout his near-30 year free solo career, Robert has grown adept at large-scale landmarks including the Empire State Building (1994), the Eiffel Tower (1996), and the Sydney Tower (1997) among others.
