Ex-PNP Chief Acorda explains photos of him with Pogo personalities

MANILA, Philippines — Former Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Benjamin Acorda Jr. dispelled allegations on Tuesday that he is involved with personalities being linked to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos).

At the Senate panel on women’s hearing, Acorda explained why he had photos with Tony Yang, Wesley Guo, and Sual Pangasinan Mayor Dong Calugay.

READ: Ex-PNP Chief Acorda’s photos with Pogo figures bared in Senate probe

Panel head Sen. Risa Hontiveros previously confronted Yang Jian Xin, also known as Tony Yang, with a photo of him and three others, including Acorda.

Now, Acorda took his time to explain that all his dealings with Yang are purely professional.

According to Acorda, he first met Yang in December 2020, when he first became the Deputy Regional Director for administration of Police Regional Office 10 in Cagayan de Oro.

READ: Ex-PNP chief allegedly took bribe to help Alice Guo, siblings flee PH

“I can say that our conversation was about the security and peace and order of the region and (how to) to promote a conducive business environment,” said Acorda.

“I met him not on [a] personal basis, but him representing a business group in Cagayan de Oro City. Honestly, your honors, during that time I have not received any information regarding his arrest warrant or that he is wanted in the country or even in China. As Regional Director and Intelligence Officer, all my dealings with him were purely professional,” he explained.

The former top cop then proceeded to explain his photo with Calugay and Alice Guo’s brother, Wesley. For his part, Acorda said since he was appointed as then PNP chief, several personalities paid courtesy visits to his office to extend felicitations.

He said he has no personal knowledge of whom his visitors would be tagging along with.

“Based on my recollection, the photo that was shown was taken last May 6, 2023—barely two weeks after my appointment. And as I recall, I had many visitors during that time, not only Mayor Calugay’s group,” said Acorda.

Acorda’s denial of his any involvement in Pogo came after Pagcor senior vice president Raul Villanueva revealed that a former PNP chief allegedly received bribes to help Guo and her companions–Shiela and Wesley–escape from the country despite being under an immigration lookout bulletin.

Meanwhile, Police chief Rommel Marbil said they are presently investigating all 24 former PNP chiefs to determine if they are involved in Guo’s escape from Philippine jurisdiction.