Mexico's president faced a firestorm of criticism Friday as his security forces confirmed they arrested kingpin-Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman's son, then released him when his cartel responded with an all-out gun battle. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who faced stinging criticism over the episode, defended the decision to free Guzman. "Little Chapo brings (government) to its knees," newspaper Reforma said in a banner headline.