Pineda says he’s returning to RP

A key figure in the jueteng scandal, alleged gambling lord Rodolfo "Bong" Pineda, is willing to return home from the United States and testify before the Senate to avoid deportation, Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo Siazon Jr. said.

Siazon told reporters that Pineda had informed the Philippine consulate about his plan to return. Pineda’s wife, Mayor Lilia Pineda of Lubao, Pampanga, had told the Senate that he is in the US for a hair transplant.

Siazon did not say when Pineda would return and where he is staying in California.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee which is investigating the jueteng scandal, had threatened to have Pineda’s passport canceled to force him to testify.

Pineda would be considered an illegal alien and subject to deportation if his passport is canceled by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Siazon said they would only cancel Pineda’s passport if the Senate committee cites him for contempt, effectively making Pineda a fugitive from justice.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Franklin Ebdalin said a passport may be canceled on two grounds: if the holder is a fugitive from justice or has a pending criminal case in the country.

So far, the Senate has not filed contempt charges against Pineda despite his failure to show up.

Pineda left for the US just before Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson dropped his bombshell on President Estrada early last month.

During the early stages of the committee investigation last month, Pineda’s wife Lilia appeared hesitant to reveal her husband’s whereabouts.

She claimed that her balding husband was not in hiding and only went to the US for a hair transplant.

Pimentel threatened to cite her for contempt to force her to cooperate with the Senate investigation.

Singson was vague on Pineda’s involvement in the jueteng scandal but did claim that Mr. Estrada once met with Pineda at the so-called "Boracay" mansion in New Manila, Quezon City.

Pro-Estrada Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago has been trying to link Pineda to Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who hails from Lubao. Arroyo denied having links with Pineda.

Arroyo was alleged to have received payoffs from Pineda similar to the allegations now hounding Mr. Estrada.

Pineda was said to be one of the largest jueteng operators in the country and has sole control of operations in Pampanga, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

During the middle of the year, PNP chief Director General Panfilo Lacson launched a campaign against the illegal numbers game.

But some lawmakers later questioned Lacson’s sincerity because he appeared to be only targeting Pineda with the objective of pinning down Arroyo.