Rody to Bato on Lam: Do what’s right

MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte has ordered Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa “to do what is right” with fugitive gaming operator Jack Lam after the Chinese businessman accused of bribery and economic sabotage had sent surrender feelers.

Lam’s alleged accomplice, retired police general Wally Sombero, went to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) office yesterday afternoon supposedly to clear his name.

Dela Rosa said the President had emphasized to him that the interest of the country must prevail.   

“I told him that Jack Lam is sending surrender feelers from abroad. I asked him what shall I do and he told me to do what is right,” Dela Rosa said in a press conference.

“What’s important is that we take care of the interest of the government and the Philippines. He should not insult the Philippines. If he has to pay huge amounts, he should pay up. He should not play us for fools. He is not paying the proper dues to Pagcor,” he added in Filipino, referring to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. 

Lam left for Hong Kong last Thursday before Duterte ordered his arrest.

Duterte has ordered the PNP to arrest Lam and retired police general Sombero for alleged attempted bribery and economic sabotage.  

Dela Rosa said Lam could also be held liable for employing foreigners without proper documents.   

Duterte ordered the arrest of Lam after Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II and Pagcor chair Andrea Domingo claimed the camp of Lam, through Sombero, attempted to bribe them and evade paying taxes to the government.   

Dela Rosa said Fontana was closed recently, while another Lam-operated casino in Fort Ilocandia in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte faces closure.   

Dela Rosa said the Fontana gaming area was closed on orders of the President and implemented by Pagcor and the PNP.

Sombero wants to clear his name

Meanwhile, the retired police general accused of playing middleman between Lam and the justice secretary went to the NBI yesterday afternoon supposedly to clear his name.

As he arrived at the NBI office at 2 p.m., Sombero, wearing a surgical face mask, initially hid his identity and told reporters to avoid him because he was sick.

When asked why he was proceeding to the director’s office, he said he wanted to have a photo opportunity with NBI director Dante Gierran.

But some NBI officials positively identified Sombero.

He later talked to the media when he got out of the director’s office at past 7 p.m. yesterday, saying he did not know if Lam would surrender.

He said he was at the NBI to clear his name.

He also denied having bribed the justice secretary.

Duterte to Lam: Pay your dues 

Duterte wants Lam to pay the right taxes when he returns to the country.

The President confirmed that Lam, who operates at Fontana Leisure Park and Casino in Clark, Pampanga, has sent surrender feelers to authorities.

“Jack Lam has sent feelers that he would like to come back – one, because he takes pity on the 6,000-plus Filipinos who (work for him); second is that he will settle his obligations,” Duterte told reporters in Albay yesterday.  

According to Duterte, the amount of taxes being paid by Lam is not acceptable to him. 

“He only pays one percent, but the rest of the guys there are paying 10 percent,” the President said, apparently referring to portion of gross gaming revenues. 

“Because he has offered to come back, pay his tax liabilities, whatever it is, I said, on the condition that he lets go of original contract that lets him enjoy only one percent. It should be uniform to all. Just pay taxes, don’t bribe anybody,” he added.   – With Alexis Romero