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MANILA, Philippines — Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chiefs General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. and General Benjamin Acorda Jr. dared a former military intelligence official to identify the top cop who allegedly received bribes from dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo.
Azurin and Acorda made their statements on Wednesday following the revelation of state-owned Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) Senior Vice President of Security and Monitoring Cluster Retired General Raul Villanueva that PNP officials had allegedly received bribes from Guo in connection with her escape.
Guo, who is under investigation for her alleged ties to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos), fled the country on July 18 and was arrested in Jakarta, Indonesia, on September 4.
READ: Ex-PNP chief allegedly took bribe to help Alice Guo, siblings flee PH
Azurin vehemently denied that he was the one being pertained to.
“Hindi ako pumatol sa Pogo kahit kailan (I never engaged in Pogo),” Azurin said in a statement.
Azurin also dared Villanueva to name the said PNP chief as he urged incumbent national police chief Rommel Marbil to file charges against him if he failed to do so.
“I think the best way to find out is ask BGen Raul Villanueva to name that former CPNP (Chief PNP). otherwise CPNP Marbil should file a case against him for putting the PNP, especially the former Chiefs in a bad light,” Azurin said.
“He should substantiate his innuendos otherwise, CPNP Marbil should file appropriate charges against Raul Villanueva,” he also said.
READ: Bato dela Rosa clears name over bribery claims during Guo Senate probe
Acorda also dared Villanueva to name the said official.
“All I can say is, his statement should be clarified,” Acorda said in a statement. “He should identify the individual.”
“The integrity of former Chiefs of PNP are at stake. The statement is sweeping and is unfair for those innocents,” he also said.
Senator Bato Dela Rosa also said he was not the former PNP chief being referred to as the one who received bribes and helped Guo.
In a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Villanueva, who served as the former commander of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said the information regarding this is still being validated.
Asked by Senator Risa Hontiveros if the former PNP chief had participated in Guo’s escape, Villanueva said: “The talk was that [he] was on the monthly payroll (of Pogos) ever since.”