Gatchalian backs executive session on ex-PNP chief’s POGO ties

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian is willing to support calls for an executive session to get details about a former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) allegedly on the payroll of illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO).

Gatchalian, one of the senators actively investigating the POGO links of dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo, noted that the information divulged by Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) senior vice president and retired Brig. Gen. Raul Villanueva, during the recent Senate hearing, was “very raw” and needed more supporting details.

“In the hearing, General Villanueva also said that the information is still being validated. So, for me, the information is still raw. It is still very raw. It is very important to get more details and information. This is a serious accusation,” the senator said in an interview over dzBB.

“Even if it has to be an executive session, the Senate will allow it because it has a national security aspect to it. It is important for Villanueva to give details and names. The entire PNP is being defiled,” Gatchalian pointed out.

During the continuation of the Senate’s public hearing on POGO-related crimes, Sen. Risa Hontiveros asked Villanueva about the possibility that government officials may have helped Guo escape in exchange for money.

“Apart from that general detail, which is P200 million (given) to a high Bureau of Immigration official, are there other people who were allegedly bribed? Are there additional amounts being discussed?” Hontiveros asked.

“There was talk about border immigration. I just don’t know, ma’am, the exact amount, including PNP officials. But I still can’t confirm that as I’ve been outside of the loop lately,” Villanueva said, citing raw reports from the intelligence community.

Gatchalian said the target output of the Senate investigations is legislative proposals to create more laws to prevent illegal activities from happening again and motivating government agencies to file charges.

“This started in Bamban. There was money laundering, human trafficking, and the committee told the agencies to look carefully and that’s what was done. Many birth certificates were