Escudero, Pimentel suggest increased security for Gatchalian, Hontiveros

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero and Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Wednesday stressed the need for increased security for Senators Risa Hontiveros and Sherwin Gatchalian amid the supposed threats against their lives.

In a text message to reporters, Escudero said he is willing to provide assistance to his colleagues should they ask for it.

"I will always help a fellow member of the Senate and stand ready to assist in whatever way I can if needed by them. They know that," Escudero said.

"However, the decision to engage additional security personnel is a personal one that I cannot make for them... They haven't asked for my assistance [yet]," he added.

In an ambush interview, Pimentel told the lawmakers who led the investigation into the raided POGO hubs to seek additional security, noting that the people behind this gambling industry are "shameless."

"Alam mo mga walanghiya talaga itong [mga ito]. Ang na-a-attract ng sugal ay mga walanghiyang tao talaga 'yan. Tapos binuksan pa natin sa mga foreigners, hindi natin alam kung anong lebelo ng kawalanghiyaan ng tao sa ibang lugar," he said.

(You know these [these people] are really shameless people. Those who are attracted to gambling are really shameless people. Then we opened it up to foreigners, we don't know the level of shamelessness in other places.)

"'Yung ating mga masugid na investigators dito na talagang nakatutok sa isyu, of course, I advise them to improve, increase their security. Pero 'yun na nga. we should not be happy na ganitong klaseng tao ang pinapapunta natin sa Pilipinas," he added.

(Our investigators are really passionate. I advise them to improve, increase their security. We shouldn't be happy that we have these kind of people in the Philippines.)

These remarks came after Gatchlian disclosed that he formally asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) to investigate and file a police report on threats against him which he believed to be a "consequence" of his role in the Senate probe on the raided POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac that has been linked to suspended Mayor Alice Guo.

The lawmaker wrote to Pasay City Police Sub-station Commander Police Major Paul Benjamin Mandane on July 4 to report a video circulating online containing "explicit threats" directed at his personal safety and well-being.

In the said video, it was claimed that Mayor Guo allegedly paid P5 million to "silence" Gatchalian. Another P5 million was allegedly offered to do the same for Senator Risa Hontiveros to stop the investigation into the raided POGO hub in Bamban.

The Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality is investigating Guo's supposed involvement in the raided illegal POGO hub located in her town.

Guo's citizenship is also being questioned due to her inconsistent testimonies about her background and the supposed dubious documents regarding her Filipino citizenship.

But Guo repeatedly denied involvement in illegal POGO activities and maintained that she is a Filipino citizen. --VAL, GMA Integrated News