JUSTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II thanked the Senate blue ribbon committee and its chair Senator Richard Gordon for clearing his name in the alleged P50 million bribery mess in the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
"I am thankful to Senator Richard Gordon for clearing my name of any involvement in this matter or in any of the issues heard before the Senate blue ribbon committee," Aguirre said in a statement Friday.
The Justice Secretary added, "Senator Gordon confirmed what is true all along, I am innocent of any irregularity in this case," he added.
After conducting five hearings, the Senate panel concluded Thursday its probe on the bribery allegations against former BI commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles, and Chinese gaming tycoon Jack Lam.
Senator Gordon after the hearing cleared the Justice Secretary of any criminal liability along with Lam.
Gordon said they do not have any proof that Aguirre is behind the extortion try on Lam in exchange for the release of his undocumented Chinese workers arrested at a casino in Fontana hotel in Clark, Pampanga.
"I would not have the proof to say that he is involved," Gordon told reporters in an interview at the Senate.
Aguirre told the senators in earlier Senate hearings that the personally met Lam's associate, former general Wally Sombero, in a hotel in The Fort, Taguig City because he was attending an awarding ceremony in the same hotel.
Gordon said the least Aguirre could get is a cautionary statement from the Senate for negligence.
Lam was likewise cleared of any liability as his alleged bribe attempt on the government official, Gordon said, was not proven.
The Senate panel is set to release its findings on its recommendations on the issue. (VoxPop Philippines)
