The Philippine National Police (PNP) is investigating 24 of its former leaders, one of whom is accused of helping the ousted mayor of Bamban, Alice Guo, flee the Philippines in exchange for a large sum of money.
"We have not yet received a report on what retired General Raul Villanueva has stated, but we are investigating whether any of our 24 former PNP chiefs are involved," current PNP Chief Police General Rommel Marbil said during a Senate finance subcommittee hearing on the proposed 205.8 billion peso budget for 2025.
According to Marbil, the 24 individuals refer to all the living former PNP chiefs.
"At the moment, all 24 former PNP chiefs are subjects of our investigation, but we need General Villanueva to name names since he spoke under oath," Marbil said in another ambush interview.
"I have spoken with the Minister of the Interior (Benhur Abalos). We had a discussion, and the Minister of the Interior said that we should not only investigate the retired PNP chiefs but also everyone who helped Alice Guo escape our country," he added.
"Monthly Salary"
At a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Raul Villanueva, Senior Vice President of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), stated that an intelligence report being verified indicates that a former PNP chief was involved in Guo's escape and is rumored to be one of the recipients of Guo's "monthly salary."
Marbil expressed dissatisfaction with the unconfirmed information revealed by Villanueva, stating it tarnished the image of the PNP.
"We are dissatisfied with what he said. Since he spoke under oath, you must tell us because it affects the entire organization. And remember, it's not just the entire PNP organization that's affected. What he said affects peace and order," Marbil said.
According to Marbil, they are drafting a letter to Villanueva, urging him to identify the person mentioned at the Senate hearing.
"We are drafting a letter to General Raul Villanueva, asking him to truly name [that person], or else he must clarify in the Senate that there is no such person. Because what happened is, he spoke under oath, he must tell us that person's name," he said.
If Villanueva fails to name the former PNP chief, Marbil stated that the matter would be handled by the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
In an interview with Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Wednesday, dela Rosa, who is also a former PNP chief, expressed concern about the "very vague statements" Villanueva made during a Senate investigation into illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
Dela Rosa immediately clarified that he had no connection with the allegations against a former PNP chief and confirmed at Tuesday's hearing that he had never met Guo.
Interior Minister Benhur Abalos Jr. stated that Marbil should respond to the allegations that his predecessor helped Guo escape the Philippines.
"I don't know about the issue with the PNP chief, let the PNP chief answer that question," Abalos said in an ambush interview at the Senate on Thursday.
"I think they are handling it," he added.
Guo is linked to an illegal POGO center discovered in Bamban and has been arrested in Indonesia and brought back to the Philippines to face charges including human trafficking and money laundering.
