Transcript of Sen. Villanueva's interpellation at the Blue Ribbon hearing

Senator Joel Villanueva: I am supporting the move to cite in contempt Wally Sombero for continuously avoiding our invitation. I am aware that the motion has been prepared and we still continue to submit to the wisdom of the Chair. Pero gusto lang natin sabihin na kailangan galangin ang komite na ito lalo na ang institusyon na ito sa pagsasagawa ng pagdinig na ito.

For NBI, narelease nyo na po ba si Sombero sa inyong custody?

Sen. Gordon intervened saying that Sombero might be held in contempt if he continues to disregard Senate's invitation. Sombero might be incarcerated at Muntinlupa.

NBI: Wala na po sa custody namin.

SJV: Sa witness protection?

NBI: Opo.

SJV to Argosino: Established na illegal ang nangyari sa Fontana...gusto ko lang pong i-point out na you are continuously committing material concealment and I would like to warn you that I would not hesitate to cite you in contempt if you continue to lie in this committee. You maintained na di nyo ginalaw ang perang binigay sa inyo?

Argosino: Yes, your Honor

SJV: In the same presscon nung Dec 13 you said and I quote: "Get yourselves from being tempted by keeping the money as future evidence against Jack Lam."

Nakakalito po ito. Pwede po bang bigyan nyo ng linaw ito kasi...Nakaiwas ba kayo sa tukso ng pera noong presscon o naisahan nyo si Jack Lam at Sombero dahil nakakuha kayo ng evidence laban sa kanila? Both are polar opposites of each other, you cannot be tempted to take the money if you have no intention of taking the money as your own at hindi naman po uso dito sa Pilipinas ang tinatawag na alternative facts. Can you clarify this?

A: Noong sinabi ko po na gagawing future evidence yan eto ho yung in relation sa tinaggap ko noong 27. Yung sinasabi ni Sombero , kinuha nya ung pera galing sa operators. Hindi po binanggit ni Sombero na galing yan kay Jack Lam

SJV: Again established na illegal ang ginawa nila, hindi nyo po ba napag uusapan?

A: That's really a legal question. Kung corruption of a public official, you want to determine kung kanino galling ang pera...

SJV: Galing kay Sombero. Nakipag meeting si Sombero kasama ka...may kailangan sila, established na illegal ang ginagawa nila

A: Sa presscon sinabi ko po na mahuhuli si Sombero pero hindi si Jack Lam. Kasi nga po ang investigation ko po ay yung ginagawa ni Jack Lam. Kung si Sombero lang mahuhuli ko at kakasuhan, e mawawala po ang big fish

SJV: That is your opinion po noh. Kami dito lahat naiintidhan na namin na established na po but anyway di na ko makikipagtalo sayo because we're running out of time. Sa harap mo sinabi ni Sec. Aguirre kay Wally na sayo makipag usap, sinabi mo rin kanina na sinabihan ni Aguirre na sayo makipag usap at di kay Calima

A: Ako po at yung apat.

SJV: Nung time na humingi si Calima noong November 30, di nyo pa ininform si Sec Aguirre na "Sir, tama ho yung inyong hypothesis na si Calima ay may ginagawang kalokohan." You did not even bother to report to Sec Aguirre regarding it?

A: Nag recall po yan nung Dec 9 nung tinanggap po ni Calima yung 18 million

SJV: He was already asking for the money, kelan yun?

A: Again he was not asking for the money starting Dec 1 your honor. All he was saying is meron akong mga recording.

SJV to Aguirre: Kelan nyo po nalaman na tumanggap na sila ng salapi? Nag report na po ba sila sa inyo o sa media nyo lang din nalaman?

Aguirre: the first time that I know of it was on Dec 9 when I talked to them.

SJV: Dec 9, you found out about the money, not when Calima was asking for a cut?

Aguirre: I did not know of them. I want to clarify about the instruction. That instruction was not given during the Nov 26 meeting. I think and I'm checking my text I think it happened either on nov 24 or nov 25 bec I've been hearing reports although these are unverified. That the group of Calima are getting bribes and letting some of the Chinese (inaudible). So when I'm receiving these reports, Sombero texted me: "Secretary, I am coordinating with Calima." Aware of the many reports, I made this text. The first line of the text was : "Do not coordinate with General Calima. Coordinate with the 2 commissioners."--Atty. Jake Licas, Dick Uy and Sherwin Uy of the DOJ. I know that my text will reach Gen. Calima. I know Sombero will tell that to Calima. That is why the first line of my text was: Do not coordinate with Calima. With respect to the other question, the money giving was said to me on Dec 9. I went to the NBI and talked to Sombero and told this story to me. The night of the same day I talked to the 2 commisioners and they told me their own story. But before dec 9, there were rumours already that money changed hands.

SJV: My only point here is that alam na alam ni Argosino na binanggit nyo kay Wally na isa sya sa mga tao na makipag usap and the thing is alam din ni Argosino na not to deal with Calima. Eto yung point ko Secretary. Nung nagbigay na ng pera noong, allegedly humingi ng cut si Calima, walang report o text o kahit anong communication kay Sec Aguirre sa mga nangyayari. If I'm your commissioner, Sec Aguirre, it's human nature...it's absurd na di kayo sinabihan tungkol sa nangyari.

SJV to Argosino: Atty. Argosino, noong isang pagdinig, you were found guilty of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide due to the death of a certain Raul Camaligan at the hands of your fraternity. Your conviction led to Supreme Court deferring the taking of your lawyer's oath. Is that correct?

A: That's correct.

SJV: The decision to allow you to take the bar was found in the SC resolution dated march 19 1997. Here you were asked to submit evidence of good moral character required of a member of the Philippine bar. If I would be allowed to read a part of the decision: "Petitioner submitted evidence that a scholarship foundation had been established in honor of Raul Camaligan, the hazing victim..." Sa article po na ito ng PDI. And I quote "The San Beda office has no record of a Raul Camaligan Scholarship Foundation supposedly created in 1995..." Alam mo ba kung may scholarship pa rin sa ngalan ni Raul Camaligan?

A: Natayo po yung scholarship foundation at registered po yan sa SEC

SJV: Kayo ang nag establish nito?

A: Yes your honor in connection with the case

SJV: So mali itong article na ito?

A: Di po totoo yan, your honor. In fact na turn over po namin sa San Beda yung foundation nagkaroon lang ng development na yung San Bed may policy sila na di nila sinusuportahan ang fraternities. Yun po ang nangyari.

SJV: When you testified before the committee last January 30, you admitted that you met with Sombero on nov 30. In his complaint affidavit Sombero narrates that you extorted an additional 50 million from Jack Lam in exchange for the release of other Chinese nationals...you did not mention of any meeting with Sombero during your presscon last dec 30. Would you elaborate what you discussed in nov 30 with Sombero?

A: My apology for mixing some facts. In fact maski sa complaint sa Paranaque, minention ko ho na yung meeting sa Crowne Hotel was nov 29. When I checked di naman pala, it's nov 30. Then I apologize din po nung sinabi ko na mineet ko si Sombero nung gabi nung 26. Nung nirecall ko yung facts, dumating sya ng 2am. I apologize. I want to set the record straight.

SJV to Robles: Sa complaint affidavit ni Sombero provides that you actively participated in the negotiation with argosino against sombero. And I quote: "Commissioner Mike said that it is possible for them to give the go signal." I supposed the go signal means to free the Chinese prisoners once the five folders are there already. Did you or did you not participate in the conversation between argosino and sombero at all?

Robles: I think there are two affidavits. One is the judicial affidavit of sombero and the other one is the complaint affidavit in the ombudsman. I have perused the same and I think they are inconsistent with each other.

SJV: Did you participate or not?

R: There were words that I have mentioned with respect to the inquiry on the procedure on how to have the Chinese nationals released. I have made a legal comment on that inquiry

SJV: But did you remember these words coming from you "go signal", "once the five folders are there already"?

R: I deny that. I have no idea what five folders mean. I have no idea at all

SJV: NBI aims to prove that you have a direct participation with these transactions.

SJV to Morente: It's highly unacceptable to hear na merong etong order kay sombero tapos wala ganun ganun lang nakalabas. I myself experienced this. I have a namesake, Joel Villanueva, murder yung kaso sa Cavite. Everytime na aalis ako, katagal tagal ng hinihintay ko. Gaya ng sabi ni Senator Gordon I have to ask NBI, etc. kahit ako ho ay kongresista noon. Pero etong Wally sombero napakabilis makaalis napakahirap tanggapin. I hope the chief of BI would do something about this. The fact remains that someone must be liable for allowing the entry of these Chinese nationals. Kailangan may managot po dahil nadedehado na ang ating labor force. Na pinpoint na ba natin kung sino ang liable, administratively or criminally?

Morente: these are undocumented ibig sabihin nung nahuli sila, wala silang passport na pinresent. It does not mean na nakapasok sila dito na wala silang passport. We detected by our record management facility, yung ating passport leaders, it is a fake passport. Nakapasok sila dito using genuine pasports but apparently during the arrest they failed to present the passports but it does not mean that a lot of them entered the country using fake passports. There were subjected to summary deportation

SJV to Pagcor chair Andrea Domingo: was there any attempt to talk to you by jack lam or sombero o kung sinumang involved sa issue na ito? May parinig din ba sa inyo na naghahanap ng ninong itong si jack lam?

Andrea domingo: di ko po nakilala si sombero . Si Lam nakipag meeting sa min pero yung tungkol sa Fontana. Yung masyadong mababa yung binabayaran niya sa kontrata...

SJV: Have you reminded him na may utang sya?

Domingo: Di po yun utang. Yun po ang nawawala sa pamahalaan...May ibang lcoators nagbabayad ng 10 percent, siya ang binabayad 1 percent....ang nawawala sa gobyerno 13.9 billion. Naiisip namin di naman yun level playing field so we were appealing to him...

SJV: Uulitin ko lang po, was there any attempt na kumausap sa inyo?

D: Wala po akong nakausap tungkol dito sa issue ng illegal gambling.

SJV: May DOJ findings na po ba ung total amount ng liabilities ni jack lam?

Aguirre: Yes Mr. chair I mentioned of that in lieu of the pronouncement of the President that in the event jack lam was not able to pay his obligation to the government, then he is going to sequester the properties of jack lam so by sequester, we think of the sequestration proceedings during Martial..under President Marcos...the DOJ is not the proper agency to compute that. Perhaps the BIR and Pagcor could so we could come up with a figure...

SJV: I agree, Sec. Aguirre. It's important to determine these figures. Perhaps determine appropriate penalties pero kung wala pang nagbibigay ng klarong figures, wala pa tayong figure kung gaano kalaki yung kailangang bayaran ni jack lam

Gordon: We asked that from Pagcor and we're checking the records right now.

SJV: Under section 10 of the Pagcor charter, Pagcor shall have the authority to operate and license gambling casinos and other similar recreation kasama po dyan basketball, football exceptt jai alai...wala po ditong nakalagay na onling gambling

Pagcor: there is no online gaming here but during the deliberation of RA 9487, then Representative Jaworksi tried to insert "except online gaming and jai alai" but online gaming never found its way

SJV: So you have authority to give licenses to online gaming?

Pagcor: Yes

SJV: I just want to put on record that I disagree and I hope that the legal department of Pagcor reviews the entire proceeding in the House of Representatives when I was member during the deliberations of this particular practice.