Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. Benjamin Abalos III trusts that the Philippine National Police (PNP) will look into the revelation of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) senior vice president Raul Villanueva.
During a Senate hearing on Tuesday, September 17, Villanueva, a retired Army general, revealed that he heard rumors regarding a former PNP chief allegedly receiving bribes from Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
Abalos said that he will let PGen. Rommel Marbil, the incumbent PNP chief, answer questions regarding the statements made by Villanueva and coordinate with the former commander of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
"Everyone wants to know who. Everyone wants to know but I will let the PNP chief answer that one," the DILG chief told reporters on Thursday, September 19, in the Senate.
"I think they are doing something about this," he assured.
'LET THE PNP CHIEF ANSWER THIS ON'
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) September 19, 2024
WATCH: Ayon kay @DILGPhilippines Sec. Benhur Abalos, wala siyang alam sa impormasyon na may dating chief PNP na sangkot sa POGO.
Ipauubaya na niya ang pagtuklas at pagberipika nito sa PNP. | RH 28 @RaymundDadpaas, DZRH News pic.twitter.com/v9W2sZ0Z11
Villanueva divulged the information after Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros asked regarding the possibility that a Bureau of Immigration official helped dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo leave the Philippines in exchange for money.
Guo has been in hot water since senators uncovered documents that linked her to two POGOs raided by the authorities in Bamban.
During the hearing last Tuesday, the former local chief executive denied that she has police officers under her 'payroll'.
Guo, who senators accuse of being a Chinese spy, fled the Philippines last July but returned to the country after her arrest in Jakarta, Indonesia last September 3.
