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Opinion

Her vast involvement

THAT DOES IT - The Freeman

Due to the statements of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) Senior Vice President Raul Villanueva that a former PNP chief who allegedly helped Alice Guo escape the country is receiving monthly bribes to protect illegal POGO operations, police chief Rommel Marbil launched an investigation on twenty-four former PNP chiefs to find out if someone helped Alice Guo and if involved in illegal POGOs. Since they did not receive any solid evidence regarding Villanueva's statements, dismay was felt among the ranks of the PNP.

Former PNP chief General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. and General Benjamin Acorda Jr. immediately denied they had anything to do with POGOs. Sen. Bato dela Rosa said the same. They said Villanueva should not have said anything without solid evidence but stated that they were still confirming the information with Villanueva. They challenged Villanueva to name the former PNP chief but have not done so. I don't know if anything will happen with Marbil's investigation of other former PNP chiefs. If someone was involved in illegal POGOs, he should have been caught by now. Maybe they aren’t looking hard enough? Just asking.

Why is Villanueva only revealing this now? Is it because the administration of President Bongbong Marcos Jr. does not want POGOs? If he did not order to stop all POGO operations in the country would that information be made available? Then there is information that Guo allegedly paid two hundred million pesos to leave the country. Money down the drain as she eventually got caught.

Former senator Panfilo Lacson revealed that Alice Guo offered his Filipino-Chinese friend one billion pesos to make all her problems with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOOC) go away. Lacson's friend is said to have high connections with the current administration. Lacson said his friend did not accept the offer. But it affirms that in the Philippines, everything may have a price. Perhaps the Senate should summon Lacson's friend to confirm Guo's attempted bribe.

The investigation on Guo shows how vast her illegal involvement in illegal POGOs is and just how much money is involved in maintaining it. Imagine being able to offer a billion pesos to make all her problems go away. A former PNP chief is now being implicated putting the PNP on edge. I have my doubts about the PNP investigation into one of their top brass. Guo should be charged for the crimes she is accused of so that the wheels of justice can start rolling. Maybe a few days' stay at the Pasig City jail will make her talk. This cannot go the way of the Pharmally investigation which seems to have gone nowhere, except for former DOH Sec. Duque and former DBM Undersecretary Lao recently being charged. Where are the Dargani siblings and other Pharmally officials?

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