Senior Vice President, Security and Monitory Cluster Ret. Gen. Raul Villanueva of PAGCOR. INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES
MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) senior vice president Raul Villanueva apologized on Tuesday to all former Philippine National Police (PNP) chiefs who have been affected by his earlier pronouncement that an ex-top cop was allegedly involved in Alice Guo’s escape.
Villanueva aired his public apology during the Senate panel on women’s Tuesday probe after being confronted by former PNP chief-turned-lawmaker Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa about the matter.
“According to PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Chief Police Major General Leo Francisco, kayo raw ay umamin na ang inyong sinabi sa Senate hearing last week ay purely rumors lang. Is that correct?” asked dela Rosa.
(According to PNP CIDG chief police major general Leo Francisco, you admitted that your pronouncement in the hearing last week is purely based on rumors. Is that correct?)
Responding to dela Rosa, Villanueva clarified that he considered his previous expose only as a rumor, repeatedly emphasizing that he could not gather concrete confirmation or verified data regarding the report.
“It’s just unfortunate, Sir, na hindi pa confirmed itong mga initial information that’s why unconfirmed information is considered not an intelligence data, not actionable at all, therefore it is not yet valid,” said Villanueva.
(It’s just unfortunate, Sir, that this initial information is not yet confirmed. That’s why unconfirmed information is considered not an intelligence data, not actionable at all, therefore it is not yet valid.)
Dela Rosa then took the opportunity to school Villanueva, pointing out that as a former intelligence officer, he should have known better that unverified information should not be shared as it could malign parties involved.
“Kaya nga I qualified it earlier, in the last Senate hearing, na raw information ito. I don’t want to put malice on our [former] chief PNPs,” said Villanueva.
(That’s why I qualified it earlier, in the last Senate hearing, that this is raw information. I don’t want to put malice on our [former] chief PNPs.)
“I’m sorry if ‘yan ang pagkaka interpret ng mga chief PNPs natin, but I hold them in respect because each of these chief PNP has their own legacy in the PNP institution,” he added.
(I’m sorry if that’s how our chief PNPs interpreted it, but I hold them in respect because each of these chief PNP has their own legacy in the PNP institution.)
Dela Rosa then asked Villanueva if this meant that he was issuing a public apology, to which the latter replied: “Yes, your honor, to say it very bluntly.”
READ: 24 ex-PNP chiefs under investigation over Alice Guo’s escape – Marbil
Earlier, dela Rosa and all other ex-PNP chiefs called on Villanueva to specifically name the former top cop allegedly involved in Guo’s escape.
Police chief Rommel Marbil, on the other hand, said they are presently investigating all 24 former PNP chiefs to determine if they are involved in the scheme.
“We are not happy with what he said,” Marbil said then.