MANILA – Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Benjamin Acorda, Jr. admitted he was hurt by allegations that he has connections with the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) personalities.
According to Acorda, the picture of him with Tony Yang, Wesley Guo, and Sual, Pangasinan Mayor Dong Calugay was taken in 2010 and he has no idea about their background.
“As I have said, medyo masakit, hindi lang medyo, talagang masakit because for 37 years I tried to keep my records clean pero just for one picture or many pictures and with so many innuendos nasira kaagad. Pero kasama na yan sa serbisyo,” he said.
Hontiveros said during her Senate committee’s hearing last Tuesday that Acorda would be given a chance to explain himself in the next hearing of her committee.
Acorda added that he also did not facilitate the escape of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo and was not receiving payola from the former mayor.
“I can say to anybody squarely, eye to eye, without flinching an eye na malinis tayo diyan kay Alice Guo. Wala tayong pakialam diyan sa pagtakas niya. Hindi rin ako tumatanggap ng pera sa kanya,” Acorda said.
Acorda added that he was the one who ordered the operation that led to the discovery of the illegal POGO in Bamban.
Meanwhile, senator Ronald Dela Rosa, also a former PNP chief, stated that the photos are not enough to establish a person’s involvement in illegal activities.
“Anybody can have pictures with us. Lalong-lalong na kung ikaw ay Chief PNP. We will have to wait for (Acorda’s) explanation,” said Dela Rosa. “Acorda gave us the assurance, members of the Council of Chiefs, na wala siyang ginagawang masama.”/PN
