PAGCOR exec sorry for raw info linking ex-PNP chief to Alice Guo's escape

PAGCOR senior vice president Raul Villanueva on Tuesday apologized for releasing raw information on a supposed role of a former Philippine National Police chief to the escape of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo.

Villanueva, a retired general and who used to head the communication electronic information service of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (CEISSAFP), issued the apology exactly a week after he said during a Senate hearing that reports were being validated about a former PNP chief supposedly involved in Guo's escape and rumored to be part of the former mayor's "monthly payroll."

During the continuation of the Senate investigation into illegal POGOs, Senator Ronald dela Rosa confronted Villanueva after the lawmaker read a statement of a group of former PNP chiefs who called themselves "Council of Chiefs,' where they called the PAGCOR official out over this "sweeping accusation."

"I don't want to put malice on our chief PNPs. I'm sorry kung 'yan ang pagka-interpret ng mga chief PNPs natin but I hold them in respect because each of these chief PNP has their own legacy in the PNP institution," he added.

(I don't want to malign our chief PNPs. I apologize if my words were interpreted by the former PNP chiefs like that. But I hold them in respect because each of these chief PNPs has left their own legacy within the PNP institution.)

Villanueva explained that he emphasized during the last Senate hearing that the information he divulged is still being verified.

"As I have stated last Senate hearing, I considered it as rumor. In fact, I dismissed it as rumor because I don't have any confirmation at all. I don't have any verified data," he said.

"Therefore, it has no bearing at all yet because I don't have any verified information or confirmation from other sources. That's why I want to ask other people but I came up with nothing," he added.

Asked if the word "sorry" means he is already issuing a public apology, Villanueva answered in the affirmative.

Dela Rosa then told Villanueva that this situation must serve as a lesson, especially from someone who came from an intelligence unit of a law enforcement agency.

"That's why nag-react 'yung mga retired na chief PNP because knowing you, you came from the intelligence service of the AFP and you know how we treat classified information," Dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, said.

(That's why the retired PNP chiefs are reacting strongly because, knowing you, you came from the intelligence service of the AFP and you're aware of how we handle classified information.)

"That incident should serve as a lesson to everyone na dapat let us be careful na magpalabas ng information na ganon dahil maraming matatamaan na hindi dapat matamaan sa unverified reports," he added.

(That incident should serve as a lesson to everyone that we need to be careful not to share information like that because many people who shouldn't be affected will be affected by unverified reports.)

Dela Rosa thanked Villanueva for his apology.

"At least you are an officer and a gentleman enough to admit na somehow nagkamali ka in giving out that information. [On] behalf of the council of the retired chief PNPs, I would like to thank you for your demeanor. Indeed, you are an officer and a general," the senator said.

(At the very least, you have the integrity to acknowledge your mistake in disclosing that information, and for that, I commend you. On behalf of the council of retired Philippine National Police chiefs, I would like to express our gratitude for your noble behavior. Indeed, you have proven yourself to be a true officer and a gentleman.)

The Philippine National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Monday said Villanueva told them that his statement regarding a former PNP chief allegedly linked to Guo was just a rumor and baseless.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, CIDG chief Police Major General Leo Francisco said he discussed the issue with Villanueva.

“Kanina nakipag-usap ako kay Brigadier General Raul Villanueva. Categorically sinabi niya talaga sa akin yun ay rumors lang at wala siyang basehan. Kaya nagulat siya kung bakit naging malaking issue ito,” Francisco said.

(Earlier, I spoke with Brigadier General Raul Villanueva. He categorically told me that it was just rumors and he had no basis. So he was surprised why it became such a big issue.) —AOL, GMA Integrated News