'Ex-PNP chief may have helped Alice Guo escape'

Bato: Don't look at me

- CECILLE SUERTE FELIPE

A former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) may have been bribed to help dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo escape, a Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) official told senators yesterday.

During the continuation of the Senate's public hearing on Philippine offshore gaming operator-related crimes, Sen. Risa Hontiveros asked PAGCOR senior vice president Raul 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 said.

"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.

Asked which PNP unit he was referring to, Villanueva replied, "not PNP unit, but (PNP) personalities." "PNP personalities. Who are they?" Hontiveros asked.

"I think it was mentioned, a former chief PNP," Villanueva said, adding he could not provide details pending further verification.

"Just to be clear, part of the talk in the intelligence community is that a former PNP chief is on the take with Guo Hua Ping, right?” the senator asked Villanueva, who is a former official of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“Yes, ma’am. But I also cannot ascertain that, from whom the report came… It’s just like rumors within the intelligence community. I think they are validating it right now. I even went to NICA (National Intelligence Coordinating Agency) last week, but there’s no information about it,” Villanueva explained.

“The talk there, ma’am, seems to be on the payroll, the monthly payroll ever since,” he added.