Senate to protect Sombero

MANILA, Philippines -  Sen. Richard Gordon has assured retired police officer Wally Sombero of protection when he returns to the country next week to testify in the hearing on the bribery scandal involving officials of the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

Gordon said he spoke last Friday with Sombero, middleman of Macau-based gaming tycoon Jack Lam.

Sombero was supposed to appear in last Thursday’s Senate hearing, but his lawyer said he suffered an anxiety attack and was unable to board his flight from Canada.

He was reportedly worried about his safety due to threats to his life.

Gordon said he assured Sombero that the personnel of the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) would secure him upon his arrival.

He told Sombero to alert him before he boards the plane so he could coordinate with the OSAA. 

“I want him to be comfortable. I want him to come over. He does not have to be afraid to say what he knows,” Gordon said over dwIZ radio yesterday.

Gordon told Sombero that he has nothing to be afraid of if he has done nothing wrong as he claims.