QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) — “Its extortion, what happened was extortion.” This was the conclusion of Senate Blue Ribbon Commitee chair Senator Richard Gordon.
The committee found that the Bureau of Immigration case which it investigated does not fall under bribery but under extortion.
“I think the truth is already out. When we adjourn this hearing and submit a committee report, I am not going to schedule another hearing just to hear more lies,” Committee Chairman Senator Richard Gordon said during the hearing.
Gordon said that the committee will recommend the filing of an extortion case against former Immigration Deputy Commissioners Michael Robles and Al Argosino and others.
“Ang talagang matindi ay ‘yung dalawang commissioners. Lahat ng galaw nila ‘di mapaliwanag. Tagal-tagal na nila, ‘di nila mapaliwanag,” he said.
After five hearings, Senator Gordon also cleared Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre from any involvement in the alleged P50M bribery scandal in the bureau.
“As a lawyer, I don’t think I was able to prove anything against Aguirre,” he said.
He said Aguirre could not be faulted for meeting representatives of Jack Lam at a hotel in Taguig City on November 26, or two days after the raid on Fontana.
“Walang masama doon. It’s a public place. They went there. They saw each other. They did not deny it,” Gordon said.
He also said Aguirre cannot be held liable on the ground of command responsibility.
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