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

NBA Philippines and Alaska Hold Tip Off Ceremonies for Jr. NBA 2017

Wazzup Pilipinas!

It is beyond doubt that basketball is the most popular sport in the Philippines. For reasons that you can leisurely play the game anywhere you are. May it be on a professional basketball court, or at any open area, in the garage, inside your room, even on the streets, and almost anywhere that you can hang a ring to shoot that ball.

This is one reason why a lot of people are motivated to play basketball since you can even play on your own. Of course, playing with or against others for a friendly competition, is definitely better.

The sport also keeps our youth away from bad vices and keeps them healthier with all that running, dribbling and shooting. Height is an advantage but even the vertically challenged or handicapped are also seen playing the same sport.

The NBA has made the sport even popular with games that have produced celebrity players that are admired and idolized by many people especially basketball enthusiasts and those that want to follow their footsteps.

The Jr. NBA Philippines 2017 presented by Alaska returns this year to the Philippines from January 20 - May 14, 2017 as part of the league’s effort to encourage youth basketball participation. The tip off was held on January 21 at Don Bosco Makati and was attended by the lead organizers and partners, including the coaches and alumni.

Sugid Productions All Set to Restage Chris Millado’s “Buwan at Baril Sa E♭ Major” From January 26 – February 12

Wazzup Pilipinas!

For its first offering as the newest theater company in town, SUGID Productions Incorporated, in collaboration with the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation, is all set to present the restaging of Chris Millado’s “Buwan at Baril sa E♭ Major” on January 26, 2017 at the Ambassador Alfonso T. Yuchengco Auditorium of Bantayog ng mga Bayani Center located in Quezon Ave., Diliman, Quezon City.

To be directed by Andoy Ranay, “Buwan at Baril sa E♭ Major” collects the stories of various characters whose lives, seemingly separate, intersect at a crucial juncture in Philippine contemporary history – the height of the anti-dictatorship struggle.

The schedule of performances are as follows: January 26, 27, 28, 29 (3pm and 8 pm), February 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12 (3 pm and 8 pm). A special Gala will be held on February 3 at 8 pm.

“Buwan at Baril sa E♭ Major” was written by Chris Millado in 1985 and originally directed and designed by Apo Chua, with the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) producing it at the Rajah Sulayman Theater, Fort Santiago in Intramuros, Manila.

Chris Millado is currently the Vice President and Artistic Director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Cinemalaya Festival Director, playwright, director and educator. Fully aware that his aesthetic sensibilities are in context with his childhood experiences on provincial Catholic rites, and Filipino folk pageantry, he plunged into street theater in 1982 - energized by the student and youth protest against the 1982 Education Act. Amidst the media censorship at this time, he, and fellow University of the Philippines theater majors, offered the theater as alternative media, as ‘living newspaper’.