MANILA — Senator Ronald dela Rosa expressed disapproval on Wednesday over Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) Senior Vice President Raul Villanueva’s mention of unverified information during a Senate hearing. Villanueva had stated that dismissed mayor Alice Guo allegedly had a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief on her payroll, who may have assisted her in leaving the country in July.
Villanueva, a retired army general, shared this information during a hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, which was examining illegal activities within Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
“It caused so much concern doon sa mga retired Chief, PNP na they are relaxing and living peacefully,” said dela Rosa, himself a former PNP chief, during a press conference. “Meron kaming group chat, mga former Chief, PNP, at yung iba doon ay concerned na concerned bakit ganoon,” he added.
(We former chiefs have a group chat and some of the people there are very concerned why something like that was said.)
He noted that some former PNP chiefs are seeking clarification on who is involved. “Gusto nila klaruhin kung sino yung involved. Di yung hindi pa validated ang impormasyon, di pa confirmed, ipapalabas kaagad. So what if kung hindi ma-validate kaagad yan? Sira na ang pangalan ng former chief PNP.”
(They want clarification on who is involved. Unvalidated and unconfirmed information should not be released. What if validation takes time? Former Chiefs of the PNP are already implicated.)
Villanueva did not disclose specific names and emphasized that the tip was still undergoing validation and confirmation.
Dela Rosa further commented that intelligence reports lack evidentiary value, raising questions about the true purpose of the hearings. “Is this part of a grand political plan?” asked dela Rosa, a member of the Duterte-led Partido Demokratiko Pilipino.
Dela Rosa plans to question Villanueva in the next committee hearing on September 24, criticizing the former soldier for potentially spreading rumors. “He was a former [Intelligence Service, Armed Forces of the Philippines]… Ganoon na pala produkto ng ISAFP. Maglalabas ng information na ‘di validated,” he remarked.
(He was with ISAFP. I didn’t realize that ISAFP trains its people to release unvalidated information.)
However, Dela Rosa stated that if the claim turns out to be true, the person involved will “face the music.” He concluded, “Walang exemption dito. Kapag nag-violate ka ng batas, harapin mo.”
(There is no exemption here. If you violate the law, you have to face the consequences.)