MANILA, Philippines — Senator Richard Gordon said a supposed emissary of the so-called “Rodriguez group” offered him as much as P20 million in “bribe money” so that the latter would not be required to face an ongoing Senate inquiry into the millions of dollars suspiciously entering the Philippines.
“Do you know that even bribe offers have been sent to me. May nagsasabi P5 million. May nagsasabi P20 million wag ko lang papa-appearin yung mga yan,” Gordon told reporters in an interview.
(Do you know that even bribe offers have been sent to me. Some say P5 million. Some also say P20 million so that I would not compel them to appear).
He said the alleged emissary of the group offered to donate P5 million to the Philippine Red Cross, which the senator stands as chairman.
The bribe offer then went up to P20 million, he said.
“I am chagrined, ang lalakas ng loob nitong mga ‘to, akala nila kaya nilang bilhin,” Gordon said.
(I am chagrined, they really have some nerve, they think they can buy off everything).
“Sabi ko hindi ko ginagawa yan,” he added.
(I said I am not into those kind of things).
Gordon’s committee, which is conducting an investigation into the suspected money laundering scheme wherein millions of dollars are being brought into the country by Chinese citizens and Filipinos, issued a subpoena against seven individuals who are believed part of the “Rodriguez” group.
The group is one of the two suspected syndicates that allegedly brought into the Philippines about P18.7 billion in alleged laundered cash.