CIDG, PAGCOR to seek truth about ex-PNP chief allegedly linked to Alice Guo

The Criminal Investigation Detection Group (CIDG) is set to meet with Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) official Raul Villanueva this week to talk about the allegation of a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief being linked to dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo.

PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said that the CIDG, the group tasked to investigate the allegation, will coordinate with Villanueva “to clear this issue once and for all.”

“Meron na pong ugnayan ang CIDG at ang PAGCOR, particularly si General Villanueva. I understand itong linggo na ito, magkakaroon ng pagpupulong,” she said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview on Sunday.

(The CIDG and PAGCOR, particularly General Villanueva, are already coordinating. I understand this week, there will be a meeting between them.)

“Kung ano man ang magiging paksa at ano ang kalalabasan ng pagpapulong na ‘yan [whatever the topic and the outcome of the meeting will be], we will be transparent about it,” she added.

Last Tuesday, Villanueva, a retired general and former commanding officer of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), said a former PNP chief allegedly helped Guo leave the country. This ex-police official was also allegedly part of Guo's "monthly payroll.” 

Currently, the PNP said it is investigating 24 of its former leaders over allegations that one of them helped Guo escape from the Philippines in exchange for a huge financial sum.

The PNP has 30 chiefs including its current head Police General Rommel Marbil. Of the 29 former PNP chiefs, five have already passed away, thus the 24 names.

Fajrado underscored the importance of identifying who the ex-PNP chief, citing it is a “national security” concern. However, if there is no evidence to support the claim of Villanueva, she said that it is incumbent upon him to clear the issue.

“Wala tayong sasantuhin dito. Masakit ito para sa PNP dahil you can just imagine, isang dating chief PNP ang sinasabing nagpatakas. Hindi lang ito within the confines ng isyu ng trust in confidence ng ating mamamayan,” she said.

(We’re not going to sanctify anyone here. This hurts the PNP because you can just imagine, a former PNP chief helped a fugitive. This is not only within the confines of the issue of trust in confidence of our people.)

“This concerns national security because you can just imagine a former chief PNP helping persons like Alice Guo na tumakas, and worse tumatanggap ng payola [to escape and worse, accept money from her],” she added.

Guo, who is being linked to an illegal POGO hub discovered in Bamban, was arrested in Indonesia and brought back to the Philippines to face the charges against her, including human trafficking and money laundering. 

Quadcom

Meanwhile, the legal counsel of Cassandra Li Ong, hit back at one of the chairmen of the four House committees leading the hearing on crimes linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), drug war deaths, and illegal drug trade in the country.

According to Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, House committee on Public Order and Safety chairman and and Sta. Rosa, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez should be reminded that House members “are not the law unto themselves.”

The lawyer made the remark after he claimed that the quadcom was abusing its contempt powers when it cited Ong in contempt for the second time.

“That is what happens when a legislator gets his knowledge of the functions of Congress from Google. He forgets that members of the House of Representatives makes laws, but they are not the law unto themselves. He also failed to understand that the rules of Congress cannot prevail against the provisions of the Constitution, which is the highest law of the land,” Topacio said.

Ong, the authorized representative of Lucky South 99 POGO firm, was again cited in contempt by the Quadcom last Thursday. The committee approved the motion that she be detained at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City.

She and Alice Guo's supposed sister Shiela were intercepted by Indonesian authorities and were brought back to the Philippines on August 22. 

GMA News Online has reached out to Rep. Fernandez for his side and will update this story as soon as he responds.—RF, GMA Integrated News