Ex-PNP chief allegedly bribed to help Alice Guo escape —PAGCOR exec

A former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief allegedly helped dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo leave the country.

That's according to PAGCOR official Raul Villanueva, a retired general and former commander at the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), as he answered a question from Senator Risa Hontiveros during a Senate probe on illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO). 

Hontiveros asked Villanueva about the possibility of government officials who may have helped Guo escape in exchange for a huge sum. 

"May pinag-uusapan na 'yung sa border immigration, di ko lang alam 'yung exact amount, including PNP official pero hindi ko pa din confirmed 'yun," Villanueva said. 

(There were talks that in the border immigration, I don't know the exact amount, a PNP official was included but that is not yet confirmed.)

Hontiveros then asked, "alin pong PNP units ang binabanggit sa usapan (which PNP units were involved)?"

Matapos ang naging pagtatanong ni Senator Risa Hontiveros hinggil sa posibleng kaugnayan ng isang umano'y dating Chief PNP, inaalam na raw ng mga ahensya kung may ibinigay na suhol at monthly payroll sa nabanggit na umano'y dating Chief PNP para makalabas ng bansa si Alice Guo. pic.twitter.com/mfycEM1b9n

— GMA Integrated News (@gmanews) September 17, 2024

"Hindi PNP po unit Ma'am eh (Not a PNP unit), but personalities... I think it was mentioned, a former chief PNP," said Villanueva. 

When asked who it was, the PAGCOR official said "I don't know, Ma'am."

According to Villanueva, the alleged former PNP chief is rumored to be part of Guo's "monthly payroll" but this is still under verification.

"Ang parang usapan dun ma'am parang 'yung parang nasa payroll, 'yung monthly payroll ever since (They said that person is in the monthly payroll ever since)," Villanueva said.

"Hindi ko din ma-ascertain 'yan, Ma'am, kung kanino galing 'yung report, Ma'am (I cannot ascertain where the report came). It's just parang rumors lang within the intelligence community. I think they are validating it right now. I even went to NICA last week, but there's no information about it, Ma'am," Villanueva added.

At the latter part of the hearing, Guo categorically denied that there was a "payroll" for police officers.

"Wala pong ganun pong nangyayari (There's nothing like that happening.)," the former mayor said.

Hontiveros expressed dismay over the information on Guo's monthly payroll.

"It gets worse and worse. Kanina bad enough 'yung magbayad di umano ng 100 milyong pisong suhol para makatakas ang isang Guo Hua Ping. Even worse kung historically may monthly payroll," Hontiveros said.

(It was bad enough that they paid P100 million bribe to let Guo Hua Ping escape. Even worse was if there's a monthly payroll.)

Hontiveros also asked Villanueva about any information on PNP acting police commander of Northern Luzon Pol. Maj. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr. on the alleged bribery.

According to Villanueva, Caramat is "part of the information" but he is not sure of the reports.

"I'm not really sure kung 'yun ang narinig ko. He is part of the information. Hindi ko masyadong sigurado. Wala naman kaming formal communication with most of the intelligence officers. One or two lang ang bumanggit sa akin," he said.

"I'm not really sure if that was what I heard. He is part of the information. I am not sure. I have no formal communication with most of the intelligence officers. I have only talked with one or two.)

"Yung information...parang may sinabi lang sila sa CIDG pero walang specific name na General Caramat, Ma'am," he added.

"They mentioned someone in the CIDG but General Caramat was not specifically named.)

Caramat, for his part, said he has no information on the supposed involvement of a former PNP chief in Guo's escape.

"I haven't got any information regarding that matter," he said.

For its part, the PNP representative said that they have not received any report yet on bribery on their officers.

"So far po, wala po kaming report with regards po kung may mga nasuhulan na PNP personnel. But despite of that po ay 'yung aming intelligence community ay tuloy tuloy po ang kanilang pag-coordinate sa ibang agencies para malaman kung may mga PNP personnel na involved din. We will file the necessary case po kung may mga evidence po kaming makukuha," PNP Deputy Director for Administration Pol. Brig. Gen. Raul Tacaca said.

(So far, we have not received reports if PNP personnel were bribed. Despite of that, our intelligence community continues to coordinate with other agencies if PNP personnel were involved. We will file the necessary case once we gather enough evidence.) 

Villanueva also said that some high-ranking immigration official may have also been involved, according to intel report. 

"May mga usap-usapan within intelligence community, pero wala pa pong confirmation kung may witnesses na meron talaga nabigyan. Pero 'yun po ang usap-sapan (There were talks within the intelligence community but there is no confirmation if there are witnesses to the supposed bribery). They're still validating it," he said.

BI Intelligence Division chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. said they have received intelligence information on the alleged P200 million bribe but they are still validating reports on the person who received it.

The National Bureau of Investigation said they are also looking at all angles on the alleged bribery, but they cannot comment yet on the investigation and intelligence gathering that is being conducted.

The National Intelligence Coordinating Agency also refused to give specific progress on their investigation, but assured the Senate panel that they will give reports on any development. —Hana Bordey/VAL/AOL, GMA Integrated News