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Executive session on ex-PNP chief’s POGO ties
By Nidz Godino
“In hearing, General Villanueva also said information is still being validated…so, for me, information is still raw… still very raw… very important to get more details and information… serious accusation,” Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian is willing to support calls for executive session to get details about former chief of Philippine National Police (PNP) allegedly on payroll of illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO).
Gatchalian, one of the senators actively investigating POGO links of dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo, noted information divulged by Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) senior vice president and retired Brig. Gen. Raul Villanueva, during recent Senate hearing, was “very raw” and needed more supporting details.
“Even if it has to be executive session, Senate will allow it because it has national security aspect to it… important for Villanueva to give details and names…entire PNP is being defiled,” Gatchalian pointed out.
During continuation of Senate’s public hearing on POGO-related crimes, Sen. Risa Hontiveros asked Villanueva about possibility that government officials may have helped Guo escape in exchange for money.
“Apart from that general detail, which is P200 million given to high Bureau of Immigration official, are there other people who were allegedly bribed…are there additional amounts being discussed?” Hontiveros asked.
“There was talk about border immigration. I just don’t know, ma’am, exact amount, including PNP officials…but I still can’t confirm that as I’ve been outside of loop lately,” Villanueva said, citing raw reports from intelligence community.
Gatchalian said target output of Senate investigations is legislative proposals to create more laws to prevent illegal activities from happening again and motivating government agencies to file charges.
“This started in Bamban…was money laundering, human trafficking, and committee told agencies to look carefully and that’s what was done…many birth certificates were found to be defective so this is the output of hearing,” he noted.
Gatchalian also pointed out that Guo, who played major part in Bamban POGO, should be immediately transferred to regular jail. At present, she is detained at the PNP Custodial Center.
“In this particular case, Pasig court wants to transfer her to Pasig City Jail, and I agree with that because we cannot give special treatment… important she be transferred to regular jail,” he said. PNP earlier said Guo is expected to be transferred to Pasig City Jail today.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, for her part, said while Guo has right to post bail, she will still have to face investigation, including non-bailable offense of human trafficking charges.
“Although she has the right to bail, investigation is still ongoing….nothing will change,” Hontiveros said in text message.
“She is still facing non-bailable human trafficking charges…so, until her innocence is proven in court, she will remain in prison,” she stressed.
The senator pointed out that Guo’s presence in Congressional hearings will also continue because she is currently in contempt in Senate and House.
On Friday, Guo posted bail of P540,000 for graft before Valenzuela Court, her counsel, Stephen David, said.
Arraignment did not proceed due to pending motion to quash, legal strategy that challenges validity of complaints against Guo.
On Mayor Liseldo Calugay of Sual, Pangasinan, rumored boyfriend of Guo, Gatchalian personally has not seen any documents that link local chief executive to POGO hub in Bamban, But the senator would continue looking closely if Calugay had played any role in Guo’s escape.
Guo and her supposed siblings, Sheila Guo and Wesley Guo, escaped in mid-July, and both Alice and Sheila claimed they used small boat before transferring to two other boats on their way to Malaysia.
Guo sisters were arrested in separate instances in Jakarta, Indonesia before they were brought back to the Philippines. Sheila is now under Senate custody.
ISKUP! 