PAGCOR exec says an ex-PNP chief was allegedly involved in Alice Guo's escape
PAGCOR official Raul Villanueva disclosed that a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief allegedly assisted dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo in departing the country.
During a Senate probe on illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) on Tuesday, Sept. 17, Senator Risa Hontiveros asked Villanueva about the certainty of the information that there is a "high Bureau of Immigrations official" who allegedly received 200 million to help Guo leave the country in July.
"Actually Ma'am, we haven't confirmed [it] yet. May mga usap-usapan within the intelligence community pero wala pa pong confirmation [kung] may mga witnesses na mayroon talagang nabigyan."
"They are still validating it Ma'am," he added.
Hontiveros furthered the questioning, asking if another person was bribed or if there were any additional amounts involved.
"Ano pa po yung usap-usapan bukod sa general detail na yun na P200 million to a high BI official. Mayroon pa bang mga 'di umanong sinuhulan, may mga additional amounts pa bang pinag uusapan?" she asked.
"May pinag-uusapan sa border immigration, hindi ko lang alam ang exact amount [ng bribe], including PNP official [na involved]. Hindi ko lang ma-confirm kasi I'm outside the loop," Villanueva responded.
Hontiveros quickly followed up and said, "Alin pong PNP units ang binabanggit sa usap-usapan?"
"Hindi PNP unit but personalities...I think it was mentioned... a former Chief, PNP," Villanueva revealed.
The PAGCOR executive added that he didn't know the kind of aid or assistance the former police chief gave as he had been "out of the loop" in the past few days.
Villanueva also said that the notion is under "validation" right now.
He added that a certain former PNP Chief allegedly received money from Guo through a monthly payroll. These are but rumors within the intelligence community but are being validated and confirmed," he said.
'I am concerned because I am a former PNP Chief'
Meanwhile, Senator Bato dela Rosa set the record straight about the alleged former PNP Chief in cahoots with Guo.
"I am concerned because I am a former PNP Chief baka mamaya mayroong lumabas na script dyan na si Bato ay tumatanggap ng pera galing sa'yo," he told the dismissed mayor during the hearing.
In her response, Guo said, "Wala pong gan'un na nangyayari," adding that she only saw Bato when she was in the Senate.
Guo also admitted that she and Bato never met in person until they saw each other in the Senate.
"Kahit selfie? May selfie ka sa'kin?" the senator asked. "I think wala po," Guo answered.
"Siniguro ko lang dahil baka mamaya may lumabas na script d'yan na ako 'yung former PNP chief na tumatanggap sayo ng pera, klaruhin ko lang ito," dela Rosa repeated.
This was also echoed by Villanueva. "Your honor, I don't have any confirmation but I'm sure you're not the one."
Guo last appeared in the Sept. 9 hearing, which took place three months since her last one and days after her arrest in Indonesia.
In that hearing, she was cited in contempt anew after repeatedly refusing to answer senators' questions on how she escaped and who helped her.
Initially, Alice said she left the country via boats, one of which was a yacht, through a port in Metro Manila.
Senators grew impatient as Alice refused to give more information, claiming she had been receiving death threats.
Eventually, senators were able to convince her to write down the name of the individual who facilitated her escape. They didn't name the person publicly.
Alleged POGO ties
Alice, her siblings Shiela and Wesley, as well as Cassandra Li Ong, her alleged cohort who has ties to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator Lucky South 99, left the Philippines in the middle of the Senate probe on POGOs.
Shiela and Ong were apprehended in Batam City on Aug. 20 and brought back on Aug. 22.
Shiela got an arrest order from the Senate due to immigration violations. The NBI also found that Shiela is a Chinese citizen named Zhang Mier who "fraudulently acquired" a Philippine passport upon examining her fingerprints and other records.
Ong, meanwhile, is facing charges of obstruction of justice and violation of the passport law, as well as a contempt order from the House of Representatives. She's one of the key persons who could help the government investigate the illegal operations of Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga.
Tarlac's Regional Trial Court Branch 109 on Sept. 5 issued a warrant of arrest against Alice in connection to the graft case filed against her by DILG.
The DILG filed a case against Alice for alleged violation of Section 3(e) and 3(h) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. The bail is set at P90,000 each or a total of P180,000.