'Ex-PNP chief was on Guo's payroll'

(UPDATES) A FORMER Philippine National Police (PNP) chief was reportedly on the payroll of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo, an official of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) told the Senate Tuesday.

Testifying at the Senate inquiry on illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) in Tarlac, Raul Villanueva, senior vice president of Pagcor's security and monitoring cluster, said «rumors in the intelligence community» said a former PNP chief had helped Guo flee the country in July.

Villanueva, a former military general, made the revelation when Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chairman of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, asked whether there were high-ranking officials who helped Guo escape in July.

BACK IN THE HOT SEAT Former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo at the Senate hearing on illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators. PHOTO BY RENE H. DILAN

Villanueva said the talk revolved not only around the alleged involvement of immigration officials but also of PNP officials.

«I don't have the name. [But] there were some rumors in the intelligence community that a former chief PNP [was helping her]. The intelligence community is still confirming it,» he said in Filipino and English.

«But I cannot confirm that, ma'am, because I'm outside of the loop lately because we're busy right now helping the law enforcement agencies running after the illegal POGOs in the countryside or in the provinces,» Villanueva told Hontiveros.

Advertisement

When asked which PNP unit was involved, Villanueva said: «It's not a PNP unit, ma'am, but personalities.» Hontiveros asked, «Who are they?»

Villanueva replied, «I think it was mentioned the former chief PNP.» Hontiveros followed up, «Which one?» To which, he said, «I don't know, ma'am, but [apparently a] former chief PNP.»

Sen. Joel Villanueva expressed concern about the possibility that a former PNP chief was under Guo's payroll. «That's very serious.»

«Definitely. It's not surprising anymore. It's clear that we are vulnerable,» the senator said.

Advertisement

Also on Tuesday, Guo admitted that she signed her affidavit dated August 14 during the first week of July or way