BONG WENCESLAO:

Before the second anniversary of the Mamasapano, Maguindanao clash that resulted in the death of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) elements, two of President Rodrigo Duterte’s trusted lieutenants were on the defensive for controversies they are embroiled in. That has momentarily taken a backseat as the Mamasapano clash is once again the talk of the town; Calls for the resignation of Philippine National Police Chief (PNP) Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa were made after the investigation into the kidnapping and killing of Korean national Jee Ick Joo in October last year was the handiwork of some police officers. What was shocking there was that the Korean national was strangled in Camp Crame inside a car.

Before the second anniversary of the Mamasapano, Maguindanao clash that resulted in the death of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) elements, two of President Rodrigo Duterte’s trusted lieutenants were on the defensive for controversies they are embroiled in. That has momentarily taken a backseat as the Mamasapano clash is once again the talk of the town.

Calls for the resignation of Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa were made after the investigation into the kidnapping and killing of Korean national Jee Ick Joo in October last year was the handiwork of some police officers. What was shocking there was that the Korean national was strangled in Camp Crame inside a car.

Before this, nobody thought that the intensified drive against the illegal drugs trade would be used as a money-making venture by scalawags in uniform. The case is rightly called “tokhang for ransom” because the perpetrators used the PNP’s “tokhang” (“toktok” or knock and “hangyo” or request) in abducting Jee and so he and his family would pay the ransom.

It’s possible this is not the first “tokhang for ransom” case involving cops. After the Jee case was exposed, there were claims that three other Korean nationals were victimized. Anti-crime crusader Teresita Ang See said she knew of 11 other “tokhang for ransom” cases involving Chinese nationals who eventually paid the ransom demanded by the scalawags.

While calls for Bato’s resignation have been stifled with President Duterte himself saying he still has trust and confidence in his PNP chief, the incident provided fodder for critics of the Duterte administration. This shows that all is not well in the Malacañang front.

This was followed by the opening of the Senate probe into the bribery case involving Chinese casino tycoon Jack Lam. This stemmed from the a Chinese national. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre was invited as resource person following his claim that Lam, or specifically his emissary, attempted to bribe him. It turned out there was more than meets the eye to his claim.

In November, more than a thousand Chinese nationals working in Lam’s illegal online gambling operation were arrested and charged for overstaying and other violations. Bribery was allegedly part of Lam’s effort to have the Chinese nationals freed. Former Bureau of Immigration deputy commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles were later accused of extorting P50 million from Lam.

Aguirre was invited to the Senate hearing as resource person following his claim that there was an attempt to bribe him. Aguirre, together with Argosino, met with Lam and his associate Wally Sombero in a hotel Some senators led by his critics Antonio Trillanes III and Leila de Lima, however, were dissatisfied by his testimony. Even Duterte ally, Sen. Richard Gordon, said there are still questions Aguirre has to answer.

There is as yet no proof that Aguirre was part of, as Trillanes would say, a “shakedown” on Lam. But suspicions are swirling, which is not good.