Pacquiao: Longtime friend Sombero asked me for help

Pacquiao, Sombero are longtime friends

MANILA – Senator Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday admitted that Wally Sombero, the alleged emissary of online gambling tycoon Jack Lam, is a long-time friend of his.

Speaking to reporters, Pacquiao said he had been in touch with Sombero prior to the latter’s arrival in the Philippines from Canada on Tuesday.

The senator said he knew Sombero when he was still into gambling.
"Kilala ko na sya noon, the old Manny Pacquiao na nagsusugal pa, nagsasabong pa," Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao also said Sombero feared for his life after the scandal broke out.

"Si Wally nag-text sya sa akin, nagpapatulong siya na bumalik dito at hindi siya gagalawin o walang mangyayari sa kanya. Sabi ko umuwi ka dito, wala naman gagalaw sa 'yo," Pacquiao said.

Sombero arrived in the Philippines today after skipping three Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings into the bribery/extortion case involving Lam and Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials.

Blue Ribbon Committee chair Senator Richard Gordon had threatened to cite Sombero for contempt if he fails to attend the next hearing set on Thursday, February 16.

Sombero was caught in a CCTV footage giving P50 million to BI deputy commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles supposedly in exchange for the release of illegal Chinese workers apprehended at Lam’s Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino in Pampanga.

Sombero, who is known in online gambling circles, denied that he was a middleman for Lam. He said, he will expose everything he knows during Thursday’s hearing.

Argosino and Robles, who have since been sacked from their posts, earlier said they took P48 million out of the P50 million from Sombero so they could keep it as evidence against Lam.

Sombero, for his part, said Argosino and Robles’ acceptance of the large sum was a “consummated extortion.”

In a press conference today, Sombero also cleared Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, who has been accused by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV of wrongdoing in connection with the scandal.

"I have no knowledge or any connection or link that the secretary is involved in the extortion scandal," Sombero said.

Aguirre earlier said Lam, through Sombero, attempted to bribe him in exchange for the release of the Chinese workers. The justice secretary did not press charges against Lam, saying the circumstances surrounding the alleged bribery attempt were not enough to trigger a solid case.

Gordon said, it is not enough that Sombero cleared Aguirre in his arrival statement.

"No, it has to be under oath, and under scrutiny," Gordon said.

He also said Sombero has to give his version of the story with regard to the November 27 incident at the City of Dreams where the P48 million was given to Argosino and Robles. P2 million went to Sombero.

"He has to explain to us ano nangyari sa nakunan ng CCTV na kasama siya," Gordon said.

Gordon also said he provided Senate security to Sombero, who is claiming to be receiving threats to his life.

Gordon added, he will not allow Sombero to invoke his right against self-incrimination on Thursday.

"Pwede mo invoke yun anytime, pero nagsalita ka na sa labas eh pwede kita habulin sa mga sinabi mo," Gordon said.