By Brian Campued
Several former Philippine National Police (PNP) chiefs distanced themselves from a Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) official’s allegations that an ex-top cop aided dismissed mayor Alice Guo’s escape last July.
During a Senate hearing on Tuesday, PAGCOR senior vice president for security Raul Villanueva revealed that the intelligence community is verifying reports about a former PNP chief who allegedly accepted bribes from illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) and was under the payroll of Guo.
Villanueva is a retired general and former commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Intelligence Service.
In a message to reporters on Wednesday, 28th PNP chief Ret. PGen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. asked Villanueva to name the ex-top cop he mentioned to “substantiate his innuendos.”
“The PNP is facing so many issues and challenges right now, such [an] irresponsible statement coming from BGEN Raul Villanueva is uncalled [for], baseless, preposterous, and unfounded,” Azurin said.
29th PNP chief Ret. PGen. Benjamin Acorda Jr., likewise, echoed Azurin’s call—stressing that the said individual should be identified so that the person can properly address the reports and clear oneself.
“The integrity of former chiefs of PNP are at stake. The statement is sweeping ang dating and is unfair for those innocents,” Acorda said.
Meanwhile, 22nd PNP chief Ret. PGen. Oscar Albayalde said he neither had an encounter nor met Guo at any instance.
Former Senator Panfilo Lacson, who was also chief PNP, expressed concern over PAGCOR’s revelation, saying that “if intelligence reports were credible,” the inclusion of a former PNP chief “is not only alarming but reprehensible.”
Top cop-turned-Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa already clarified PAGCOR’s information and asked Guo if she had already met him prior to the Senate hearings—to which the ex-mayor denied.
Current PNP chief PGen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, meanwhile, directed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to coordinate with PAGCOR “to get more details” and probe the said allegation thoroughly.
“There is no sacred cow dito sa gagawing investigation, even if it means holding liable ang isang former chief PNP,” PNP Spokesperson PCol. Jean Fajardo said in a press briefing.
“Mismong si chief PNP ang nagsabing wala tayong sisinuhin. Kahit sino pa siya, magfa-file tayo ng kaso,” she added. (with report from Patrick de Jesus/PTV News)
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