CASINO PROJECT Macau-based gambling tycoon Jack Lam (left), shown in this 2006 photowith then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as he presented a scalemodel of his P2.5-billion Fontana Leisure Parks project, has reportedly left the country forHong Kong. 鈥擨NQUIRER PHOTO
The Chinese gaming tycoon whom President Duterte ordered arrested immediately for bribery and economic sabotage in connection with his illegal online gaming business in the country is still on the lam.
It appears that Jack Lam had already flown the coop when the President on Saturday ordered Director General Ronald dela Rosa of the Philippine National Police and Director Dante Gierran of the National Bureau of Investigation to arrest him.
The gaming tycoon left the country for Hong Kong last week on a commercial flight, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
鈥淭here is a foreign national named Lam Yin Lok, the alleged real name of Jack Lam, who left the country on Nov 29鈥� on Cathay Pacific Flight CX918 bound for Hong Kong, said BI spokesperson Antonette Mangrobang.
Mangrobang said no record showed that Lam had returned to the Philippines since he left last week.
After Lam was reported to have fled the country, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said he might issue a lookout bulletin order against him to monitor his movement
鈥淪ome are saying he鈥檚 still here. Others said he already left the country. I still don鈥檛 know (his whereabouts),鈥� Aguirre said.
Track him
Amid the uncertainty over whether Lam was still in the country, Dela Rosa yesterday directed all police units nationwide to help track Lam.
鈥淚鈥檓 ordering all PNP units to look for and apprehend Jack Lam for the crime of bribery and economic sabotage,鈥� he told reporters.
He said the PNP was also coordinating with the BI to prevent Lam from leaving the country through airports and seaports.
The lawyer of Lam on Sunday said he could not disclose whether his client was still in the country due to 鈥渓awyer-client privilege.鈥�
Asked whether he had already talked to Lam, lawyer Raymond Fortun said, 鈥淣o word from him.鈥�
In a text message to Inquirer.net, Fortun declined to comment on Mr. Duterte鈥檚 orders to have him arrested. 鈥淣o comment,鈥� he said.
But he said his client had 鈥渘o reason to bribe anyone as his operations are legitimate.鈥�
Bribe offer
Lam鈥檚 apparent departure came three days after he allegedly attempted to bribe Aguirre at a hotel in Bonifacio Global City on Nov. 26.
Aguirre said Lam, through his representative, had asked him to be a protector of his illegal internet gambling business in exchange for a bribe of up to P100 million a month.
Lam, owner of the Hong Kong-listed Jimei International Entertainment Group Ltd., has denied the accusations, saying he did not have to bribe Aguirre since his company鈥檚 gaming activities are all legal.
The bribe offer took place two days after the arrest on Aguirre鈥檚 orders of 1,316 Chinese nationals who were running Lam鈥檚 online gaming operations without the necessary permits at Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino at Clark Freeport in Pampanga province.
Aguirre said Lam also tried to bribe Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. chair Andrea Domingo.
鈥楥oddling鈥� undocumented
The justice secretary said on Sunday that Lam violated the country鈥檚 immigration laws for 鈥渃oddling鈥� undocumented Chinese nationals who were working in his online casino business.
Aguirre said the casino operator may also be arrested for economic sabotage over his failure to pay correct taxes to the national government.
An arresting team from the NBI was sent to Pampanga on Saturday but failed to locate Lam in Fontana, according to the justice secretary.
No arrest of Lam had been reported in their areas as of Sunday, said Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino, Central Luzon police director, and Noel Manankil, president of Clark Development Corp. 鈥�WITH REPORTS FROM JEROME ANING AND MARLON RAMOS