Senators Find Holes in Probe on Alleged Bribery by Jack Lam

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Wig: Jack Lam offered to bribe me. 

Q: Is it not a CRIME not to report this offer to the authorities? 

The wig is caught with his pants down!

When Wally Sombrero asked Aguirre to be "ninong" to Jack Lam, that should have been reported immediately. The Senators are in a squabble on the Senate inquiry of the Jack Lam extortion issue. They are trying their best way to be apolitical - but there's no such way!

"Where is justice in the Jack Lam case? "The Justice Secretary’s “forgive-and-forget” attitude in the Lam affair should’ve set alarm bells at the President’s inner circle. "Allowing a suspected criminal to return to the Philippines without prosecuting him certainly does not jive with President Duterte’s fierce anti-corruption and anti-oligarch stance. "And in light of the escalating “media war” being waged against the President, Aguirre should have realized that his actions might have inadvertently placed Duterte on the war zone once again. "He ought to know that as the President’s alter ego, his actions whether good or bad are deemed to be his boss’s positions – and would certainly affect the people’s perception on the President."

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on alleged bribery in Bureau of Immigration involving Jack Lam is highly interesting. When Senator Richard Gordon said Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II is not yet off the hook in the Jack Lam bribery scandal, I thought that's something everyone could easily deduct yet with these personalities currently in equally higher power, it would be easy for them to manipulate, delay and escape the system. Gordon said there are circumstances that put a cloud of doubt over the justice secretary’s integrity. Duhh!?

Aguirre said that gambling tycoon Jack Lam has a protector in the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). That is expected. Every corrupt businessman has people in government under their payroll. No one can get away with similar crimes if they do not have a scoundrel protecting him. There are government people under his payroll indeed.

Even the Ex- Bureau of Immigration (BI) Al Argosino should be held accountable for meeting with Jack Lam's aide and accepting money bags. The two former immigration officials-- Al Argosino and Michael Robles-- allegedly received P50M bribe from Jack Lam. Argosino says he split the Php 50 million with Robles for security reasons.

Wally Sombrero says that the Chinese companies approved the P100M goodwill money and Jack Lam advanced the P50M. These people do have so much money that they are almost giving them away. But how come Jack Lam owes the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) an accumulated Php13.9 billion over the years, according to Arnel Ignacio, PAGCOR Assistant Vice President. My thoughts - these businessmen really do know how to deploy their money and get away with it? Also, how did a comedian cum host became a PAGCOR official? Lol!.


Highlights (from CNN):
- Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre recalls meeting with gambling tycoon Jack Lam
- Aguirre: I rejected bribe offer from Jack Lam
- Aguirre: Operations of casino ongoing for 10 years
- Aguirre: Many workers escaped despite over 200 police security
- Aguirre recalls Wally Sombero's words to him: "Pwede ba si Justice Secretary ang mag-ninong kay Jack Lam?"
- Aguirre: I was asked to protect illegal online gambling
- Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente: Many of the workers entered as tourists
- Former Immigration Deputy Commissioner Al Argosino: Jack Lam associate called me for a meeting
- Argosino: Sombero called me often before City of Dreams meeting
- Argosino: Sombero brought two shopping bags to the meeting
- Argosino: Sombero requested help for Jack Lam
- Sen. Joel Villanueva: Labor committee investigating illegal Chinese workers
- Villanueva: Former Immigration Bureau commissioner confirms work without permits
- Villanueva: Former Immigration Bureau commissioner withheld information
- Villanueva: Former Immigration Bureau commissioners lied before committee
- Villanueva: Entrapment operation was not disclosed
- Villanueva: Considering contempt charges vs. former Associate Commissioner Al Argosino