Duterte wants gaming boss Lam arrested

MANILA, Philippines - Police are under orders to arrest Jack Lam, a Chinese gaming operator at Fontana Leisure Park and Casino in Clark Field in Pampanga, for alleged bribery and economic sabotage.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said in a dzMM radio interview it was President Duterte himself who ordered a manhunt for the Chinese businessman. Also ordered arrested was his Filipino interpreter, retired police general Wally Sombero, for arranging the alleged bribe offer.

“We are appealing to anybody who knows where Jack Lam is to report his location to the nearest police station. He is a Chinese national operating an online gaming at Fontana in Clark,” Dela Rosa said.

Lam’s lawyer Raymond Fortun declined to comment when told of Dela Rosa’s announcement.

“I wouldn’t know,” he told The STAR when asked about Lam’s whereabouts.

Dela Rosa said the President’s order was in line with the arrest of more than 1,000 undocumented Chinese nationals during a raid led by the Bureau of Immigration on Fontana recently. The Chinese rounded up were reportedly working illegally for Lam’s online gaming operations.

Lam allegedly tried to facilitate the release of the arrested undocumented Chinese by offering, through Sombero, a bribe of undisclosed amount to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.

Fortun, however, denied the bribery claim, saying the meeting with Aguirre in a hotel in Bonifacio Global City on Nov. 26 lasted only for five to 10 minutes and his client was not even able to speak a word.

“Whatever Mr. Sombero told the justice secretary was a matter between the two of them. Mr. Lam had no reason to bribe anyone as his operations are legitimate,” Fortun said in an earlier television interview.

Dela Rosa said the President had specifically instructed him to carry out Lam’s and Sombero’s arrest.

“I am giving orders to all my PNP units to arrest him immediately as ordered by the President for the case of bribery and economic sabotage. We hope you can help us. Isama na rin si Sombero (include Sombero),” Del Rosa said.

Dela Rosa admitted there was no warrant for Lam’s arrest and that he had instructed BI chief Jaime Morento to be on the lookout for Lam.