All ex-PNP chiefs under probe in search of Alice Guo cohort

Metro Manila, Philippines – All 24 former Philippine National Police (PNP) chiefs are under investigation after a gaming regulatory official revealed intelligence rumors that one of them aided offshore gaming operator-linked Alice Guo in escaping the country.

During a hearing on the proposed 2025 national police budget on Thursday, Sept. 19, PNP chief PGen Rommel Marbil said the police have yet to receive a report regarding the information disclosed by Raul Villanueva, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) senior vice president.

Villanueva said in a previous Senate hearing that a former top cop was on a “monthly payroll” and assisted in the escape of Guo, the former mayor of Bamban, Tarlac who faces multiple charges for alleged involvement in illegal offshore gaming operations.

“Wala pa po kaming report coming from General Raul Villanueva doon sa sinabi niya. But we are investigating 24 of our former chief PNP kung involved po sila,” Marbil said.

[Translation: We have not yet received a report from General Raul Villanueva regarding what he said. But we are investigating 24 of our former PNP chiefs to determine if they are involved.]

Senator Robin Padilla asked if the PNP had spoken to Villanueva about his information.

Marbil said he will write to Villanueva, asking him to “really name the name kung sino talaga or else you have to clarify sa Senado na wala naman talaga (either name the person involved, or clarify before the Senate that no such individual exists).”

In a chance interview, Marbil said all 24 living former PNP chiefs are included in the probe. Marbil is the 30th PNP chief, five predecessors passed away.

“We have to investigate everybody unless he (Villanueva) mentioned the name. He needs to mention the name kundi talagang mahihirapan po kami (or else we would really be having a hard time),” Marbil said.

He said he also met with Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos about this.

“Sabi po ng SILG (Secretary of Interior and Local Government) natin we have to investigate not only the retired na chief PNP but everybody that helped ALice Guo na makaalis po sa country natin,” he said.

[Translation: The SILG said we need to investigate not only the retired PNP chiefs but everyone who helped Alice Guo leave the country.]

During the hearing, Senator and former PNP chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa asked Guo directly if he was the one referred to as being on the monthly payroll.

Guo cleared him, saying “Wala pong gano’n pong nangyayari (Nothing like that happened).

Another PNP chief, former Senator Ping Lacson, said he was not surprised to hear that rogue policemen and government officials were on the take to aid Guo.

“But to include a former CPNP, if intelligence reports were credible as exposed by the PAGCOR official, is not only alarming but reprehensible,” Lacson said.