Bello says he was cleared by complainant in P6.8 million extort case

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Friday claimed that he was already cleared of involvement in the P6.8 million extortion complaint filed against him, by the supposed complainant herself.

READ: Mga opisyal ng DOLE na isinasangkot sa P6.8M extortion, ipatatawag ng PACC

“Biglang may tawag sakin, na ito daw si Azizzah, yung nagexecute ng affidavit ay umiiyak-iyak at [nakokonsya] daw siya dahil yun daw nasangkot ako,” Bello said in an interview with Radyo Inquirer.

“Gusto nila makipagusap sa akin. Syempre in-entertain ko naman. Doon, tinanong ko si Mrs. Azizzah Salim yung pangalan, sabi ko ano bang problema ninyo,” he added.

Bello said Salim, owner of Azizzah International Manpower Services Inc., denied mentioning his names in a sworn affidavit she reportedly signed before President Rodrigo Duterte.

Salim, he said, also admitted that she did not read the affidavit when she signed it.

READ: Labor Usec beat Duterte to the draw by resigning

“’Secretary, dinala ako sa Presidente. Nagkwento ako tungkol dun sa pangingikil sa akin. Pero kahit minsan hindi kayo binanggit’, sabi niya (Salim),” Bello quoted Salim as saying.

“Kung babasahin mo yung affidavit na yun, halatang halata na isiningit lang yung pangalan ko,” he added.

According to Bello, Salim had asked him to accompany her to the President to clarify the situation. But due to the President’s busy schedule, the agency owner instead testified before Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

“Kinonfirm niya lahat ng sinabi niya sakin; na hindi niya ko binanggit, hindi niya ko sinasangkot dun sa loko-lokohang nangyayari at lalong hindi niya binasa yung affidavit na nilagdahan niya,” Bello said.

Earlier, Bello also denied receiving P100,000 and an expensive mobile phone from the owner of a recruitment agency. He said the money was supposed to be a birthday gift to him but he immediately asked his secretary to return it.  Kristine Anne Macasiray INQUIRER.net intern /muf

READ: DOLE chief denies receiving money, phone from recruitment agency boss