A former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief allegedly took a bribe to assist dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo and her siblings leave the country.
This information was disclosed by Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) official Raul Villanueva, as he responded to a question from Senator Risa Hontiveros during a Senate probe on illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).
Hontiveros inquired whether intelligence reports indicated that a high-ranking official had been bribed with a P200 million to facilitate the escape.
The senator mentioned prior to the recent panel discussion that Guo and her siblings gave the money to exit the country without being detected by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and other law enforcement agencies. Shiela Guo, Alice’s sister, said that she was unaware that the money was used to dodge arrest.
When Hontiveros asked Villanueva what kind of assistance the PNP official offered, the PAGCOR official said he could not confirm the information.
“I don’t know kung anong exact aid ang sinupport but hindi pa naconfirm ‘yan kung nagbigay, nabigyan o tinanggap or may witnesses. ‘Yon lang po ang naririnig namin sa intelligence community. I’m out of the loop lately, di ko rin maconfirm,” Villanueva said.
Villanueva also noted that he does not know the name, except that there were rumors circulating around the intelligence community that it was a former PNP chief.
Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada went on to question if it was just gossip to which Villanueva replied that “the intelligence community is still verifying.
