THE Liberal Party is not yet off the hook on allegations that they used money extorted from suspected Chinese crime lord Wang Bo to bribe lawmakers into voting for the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), the leader of the independent minority bloc said Sunday.
“We would like to hear the story of Mr. Wang. His testimony will deny or substantiate the allegations against the LP,” said Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. “[The testimony of] Wang Bo should be heard, evaluated and examined.”
Romualdez, leader of the independent minority bloc, said Wang’s appearance before the House committee on good government and public accountability could shed light on reports that $100 million was used to ensure the speedy passage of the BBL and to raise funds for the Liberal Party’s 2016 campaign.
Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. of the National Union Party, chairman of the House committee on games and amusement, said the panel would dig deeper into Wang’s illegal gambling operations in the country.
Immigration officials, accused of accepting millions of pesos in return for ordering Wang’s release, have a lot of explaining to do, he said.
“The question on the inordinate delay in the deportation of Wang Bo remains hanging. The committee must further look into the controversy,” he added.
Congress has invited Wang to appear on Tuesday, but his lawyer said over the weekend that his client has gone missing.
Earlier, Immigration Commissioner Siegfred Mison, and Associate Commissioners Gilberto Repizo and Abdullah Mangotara denied receiving any money in exchange for ordering Wang’s release.
Sources told The Standard that Repizo and other immigration officials had met with Wang’s representative before the May 21 board meeting in which the commissioners reversed a deportation order and ordered the suspect’s release.
On May 26, Mison sought to overturn the May 21 release order and reinstate Wang’s deportation after the Chinese Embassy said the suspect had violated laws not only in the Philippines but also in China.
Repizo and Mangotara refused to sign the new order, however.
During last week’s committee hearing, Romualdez, Iloilo Rep. Jerry Trenas, and Barzaga crossed party lines in questioning theflip-flopping and inordinate delay in the implementation of a deportation order on Wang on charges of transnational gambling.
South Cotabato Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez, Butil party-list Rep.Agapito Guanlao and Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento also expressed dismay over the slow deportation processes.