Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), dared on Thursday, Sept, 19, an official of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) to name names amid the allegation that a former country’s top cop assisted dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor to escape.
Marbil said the statement made by Pagcor vice chairman Raul Villanueva is damaging the entire police organization, especially that he did not provide the name of the supposed former chief PNP who did not only help Guo to escape but is also on her monthly payola.
“The statement of general Villanueva is damaging to the whole PNP and the whole government. We represent the whole government in law enforcement and peace and order and it’s something else,” said Marbil.
“That’s not good but then we will investigate. Give us the name and we will investigate and we will put him in jail,” he added.
Villanueva, a retired military general, was quoted saying in a Senate investigation on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) that a former PNP chief was on a take and helped Guo to get out of the country.
Villanueva’s statement did not sit well with all the 24 living former PNP chiefs, especially that the former stated that his allegation was based on the “rumors” within the intelligence community.
Marbil earlier ordered the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to coordinate with Pagcor to get more information from Villanueva.
But Marbil said they will be filing cases if Villanueva could not substantiate his claim.
“He is under oath. That’s a difference between talking to the public and talking to the Senate when you are under oath and that is his accountability. He should be careful in (anything) that he utters and it’s something else,” said Marbil.
“If he cannot produce (the name and evidence) you know we will file charges against these people. You cannot malign the organization and that’s a PNP and that’s a whole government,” he added.