Sec. Benhur Abalos Jr., Department of the Interior and Local Government, speaks to the members of the media in a Press Conference at Royal Star Aviation Hangar, Pasay City on Friday, September 6, 2024. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. declined to comment on allegations that a former police chief was “involved” with Alice Guo, leaving the task of addressing the issue to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“I’m not… hindi ko alam ‘yang about the chief PNP, let the PNP chief answer this one about this issue,” Abalos told reporters in an ambush interview at the Senate on Thursday.
When pressed to say whether he was interested in knowing the identity of the former high-ranking police officer, Abalos simply stated that everyone wants to know.
READ: Ex-PNP chief allegedly took bribe to help Alice Guo, siblings flee PH
“I think they are doing something about this. Sino ba ang nagsabi? Pagcor (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) I think they would coordinate [with the PNP],” said Abalos.
He said it’s up to the PNP to “know about this,” adding that he has yet to talk to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. about the issue.
Pagcor senior vice president Raul Villanueva earlier revealed that a former PNP chief allegedly received bribes to help Guo and her companions – Shiela and Wesley Guo – escape the country despite being under an immigration lookout bulletin.
Villanueva’s exposé received the criticism of former PNP chief Bato dela Rosa who noted that the Pagcor official was wrong for disclosing the reports they received even without concrete evidence.
READ: Pagcor exec told: Name ex-PNP chief in Pogo ‘payroll’ or face charges
“You cannot pin down anybody through intelligence reports because intel reports have no evidentiary value and cannot stand in court. So dapat bago nila nilabas yun, kinonfirm muna. Vinalidate nang husto at once validated — dapat alamin kung sino talaga ‘yun at isabi ang pangalan,” dela Rosa told reporters previously.
(So before this information got disclosed, I hope they confirmed it first. They should have validated it thoroughly and once validated, they should have checked and revealed the name.)
Guo was the dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor who is now facing a non-bailable charge of qualified human trafficking at the Pasig Regional Trial Court.
She was accused of being part of a “conspiracy” that allowed an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator hub in her town to engage in human trafficking activities, among other crimes.
At present, she is under the custody of PNP.