Win Gatchalian said Chiz OK’d more security for him amid death threats

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero granted Senator Sherwin Gatchalian's request for additional security amid threats to his life, the latter said Thursday.

In a Viber message to GMA News Online, Gatchalian said that he requested security from the Senate leader twice.

The first time was for his ocular visit to the raided POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac and the second time it was for "additional daily security."

"Both were approved by [Senate President] Escudero," Gatchalian said.

In an ambush interview, Gatchalian thanked Escudero for the additional security and shared that he had to change his usual routine amid these reported threats.

"I have to change also yung ating ginagawa. Katulad nga before, I used to go, kung may bibilhin ako sa mall, ako lang mag-isa. But ngayon, of course, meron nang security because of this," he said.

(I had to change my routine. Before, if I wanted to buy something from the mall, I'd go alone. But now, of course there's security because of this.)

"Habang pinag-uusapan natin itong issue ng POGO, dapat mag-ingat kasi nakita ko yung mga torture na ginagawa at yung mga taong nandito. Hindi sila ordinaryong criminal syndicates, triad ito. At kung titignan natin yung kapasidad nila gumawa ng torture at pagkukulong, talagang dapat mag-ingat," he stressed.

(While we are discussing the POGO issue, we have to be careful because we've seen the torture that these people carry out. They are not criminal syndicates, they're triads. And when we see their capacity to torture and abduct people, you really have to be careful.)

According to Gatchalian, he also advised his family members to take measures amid these threats.

He added that he will continue to participate in the investigation into the raided POGO hubs.

Earlier this week, Gatchalian disclosed that he formally asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) to investigate and file a police report on threats against him which he believed to be a "consequence" of his role in the Senate probe on the raided POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac that has been linked to suspended Mayor Alice Guo.

The lawmaker wrote to Pasay City Police Sub-station Commander Police Major Paul Benjamin Mandane on July 4 to report a video circulating online containing "explicit threats" made against him.

The Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality is investigating Guo's supposed involvement in the raided illegal POGO hub located in her town.

Guo's citizenship is also being questioned due to her inconsistent testimonies about her background and the supposed dubious documents regarding her Filipino citizenship.

But Guo has repeatedly denied involvement in illegal POGO activities, and has maintained that she is a Filipino citizen. — BM, GMA Integrated News