SECURITY at the Pasig City Jail has been beefed up ahead of the transfer of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo to the facility today, Monday, from the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame.
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) spokesman Supt. Jayrex Bustinera assured the safety of Guo while in the custody of the BJMP-supervised female dormitory of the Pasig City Jail.
Meanwhile, a group of former PNP chiefs has denounced what it described as an “irresponsible statement” by a Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation official that a former PNP chief is on the payroll of Guo and even helped her escape from the country.
In a statement, the Council of Chiefs urged Pagcor Vice President for security and monitoring cluster Raul Villanueva to name the former PNP chief so the rest can be cleared.
“We had special arrangement for security. We provided additional personnel, we tightened our security because of her,” Bustinera told a radio interview, but declined to reveal more details.
Bustinera added that personnel from the Pasig City police station were also tapped to help secure the facility.
A “response team” composed of female jail officers who will provide security to Guo when there is a need to transport her to attend hearings has also been formed, according to Bustinera.
He said Guo would be secured by BJMP and PNP personnel during her transport to hearings.
“The BJMP assures her safety and security,” Bustinera stressed.
The PNP received an order from the Pasig City court, where Guo is facing a non-bailable case of qualified human trafficking, to transfer Guo to Pasig City last Thursday.
The PNP was set to transfer Guo to the Pasig jail last Friday after attending court proceedings at the Valenzuela City court, where she is facing a graft case, but this did not push through due to “issue(s) on documentary requirement(s).”
Bustinera said the female dormitory of the Pasig Jail currently houses 135 detainees, way high from its ideal capacity of 36 detainees.
He said Guo will be detained at one of the cells designed to accommodate only nine detainees. The cell is currently occupied by 44 detainees and Guo will be the 45th occupant, said Bustinera.
He said there would be no VIP treatment for Guo.
The cell has a comfort room and an industrial fan. “It’s clean and well-maintained,” he said.
He said they already did a background check on the soon-to-be cellmates of Guo. “They are not violent PDL (persons deprived of liberty) or high risk,” said Bustinera.
‘IRRESPONSIBLE STATEMENT’
Last Tuesday, Villanueva told senators that intelligence reports showed a former PNP chief in the monthly payroll of Guo was involved in her escape.
Villanueva, a retired Army general, was previously assigned with the Intelligence Service of the AFP and has been described by active military officers as a “very good intelligence operator.”
Guo fled to Malaysia last July, evading a Senate investigation on her alleged involvement in the operation of illegal offshore gaming hubs. She was nabbed last September 4 in Indonesia and brought back to the Philippines.
“The Council of Chiefs composed of former Chiefs of the Philippine National Police strongly condemns the irresponsible statement made by retired AFP brigadier general now a senior Pagcor official Raul Villanueva during the Senate investigation of illegal POGOS last September 17, 2024,” the Council of Chiefs said.
The group said Villanueva’s “sweeping accusation maligned and brought dishonor to the former PNP chiefs “who have dedicated the best years of our lives in the service of the Filipino nation.
“Although we are now retired, we continuously uphold our integrity to the highest standards and our solemn pledge to serve and protect our country and people,” they said.
“As a retired Brigadier General himself, schooled in the Philippine Military Academy’s tradition of producing an ‘Officer and a Gentleman,’ it is incumbent upon himself, in the interest of transparency, fairness and justice, to identity this rogue former PNP chief to clear the names of those not involved,” the group added.
It said if the information of Villanueva turns out to be false after validation, “we demand a public apology, no less, from the same officer.”
Three former PNP chiefs — now Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa, Rodolfo Azurin Jr. and Benjamin Acorda Jr. — had earlier denied they were the former PNP chief referred to by Villanueva.
Yesterday, former PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar also said he is not the former PNP chief mentioned by Villanueva.
“Personally, I do not know Alice Guo and definitely, I am not the person referred to by Gen. Villanueva if what he said was true,” said Eleazar.
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) is due to meet with Villanueva this week.
“The PNP CIDG will be coordinating with Pagcor, particularly Gen Villanueva. I understand there will be a meeting this week,” Fajardo told a radio interview.
“The PNP CIDG will be coordinating (with him) to once and for all clear this issue,” Fajardo said, adding the public will be informed of the outcome of the meeting.
