Acorda: I did not accept money from Guo

MANILA, Philippines —  After he was dragged into a controversy involving people with alleged links to Philippine offshore gaming operators, former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. maintained that his conscience is clear and stressed that he never enriched himself through money from POGOs.

Speaking to reporters in a phone interview yesterday, Acorda said he never tolerated any illegal transaction in his 37 years as a police officer, including those with personalities linked to POGOs.

While he did not elaborate, Acorda asserted that he was able to do his job in protecting the country and that he would do it all over again for the sake of national security.

He also urged the public to keep an open mind on the issue.

“I hope our countrymen will be open-minded. There’s a lot going on behind the curtains,” he said.

He added that he never benefited from people connected with POGOs, including dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo.

“I can say to anybody squarely, eye to eye, without flinching… that we are clean from Alice Guo,” Acorda said.

The former PNP chief pointed out that it was during his term that police raided Zun Yuan Technology Inc., an alleged illegal POGO reportedly connected to Guo.

Known as an intelligence operative, Acorda intensified law enforcement operations against POGOs during his tenure.

Retired military general Raul Villanueva, who is now an official of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR), earlier revealed that a former PNP chief helped Guo escape.

Villanueva later backtracked on his statement, saying it was only based on rumors.

“We don’t care about her escape. I also did not accept money from her,” Acorda said.

The former PNP chief has been invited to the next hearing of the Senate investigating crimes linked to POGOs after photographs of him with persons linked to the banned industry, including Tony Yang, the elder brother of former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang.

Acorda admitted that he was hurt by insinuations that he was connected with personalities in the POGO industry. He lamented that his reputation has been tainted by just pictures and innuendos without basis.

Asked about the