P440-M BBL bribery story ‘credible, solid,’ reporter tells House

Christine Herrera (right) and two other reporters from The Standard attend the House probe on the alleged bribery from Chinese crime lord Wang Bo. PHOTO BY MARC CAYABYAB/INQUIRER.NET

The reporter who broke the story on the alleged P440-million bribe for lawmakers to pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) stood by her articles when she appeared before the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

During the House of Representatives investigation on the alleged bribe from Chinese crime lord Wang Bo, Christine Herrera said her series of stories were verified using credible sources before these were published.

“I stand by what I have written in my articles. They are based on credible sources and solid evidence. I (exerted) efforts to verify and corroborate the story before submitting for publication,” said Herrera, whose articles came out of The Standard.

The reporter then quoted from US President Barack Obama about the freedom of the press.

“‘A society who represses journalists ultimately represses the people.’ I brought out the basic principle which is that a free press is a foundation for a democracy. We rely on journalists to explain the actions of the government. If the government controls the journalist then it’s very difficult for citizens to hold government accountable,” Herrera said.

Also invited to the probe were Standard reporters Maricel Cruz and Rey Requejo.

A fuming Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga insisted that Herrera bare her sources on the alleged payola, threatening that the reporter would be cited in contempt if she refused to reveal her sources.

Herrera stood by her silence and said she should protect the identity of her sources. She also invoked being protected by the Sotto law, which protected journalists from revealing their sources of stories.

Herrera said her sources include high-ranking House officials, high-ranking immigration officials and some representatives who either admitted or denied that they received payoffs for the BBL passage.

Herrera also said the solons who admitted receiving the payola described it as “barya-barya lang.”

Serious accusation

“This is a very serious accusation affecting the very institution. I would move that Mrs. Herrera be cited in contempt until she provides the information of congressman and high officials …” Barzaga said.

Herrera refused to answer questions from solons about her sources, or even queries that could indirectly identify her sources.

“I am sorry if I have hurt the congressmen present here today. And I still stand by my sources … I am sorry, please understand that if I reveal the identities of my sources, no one would trust me … I have (told) my sources that I would write the story without revealing their identities,” Herrera said.

Eventually, the panel gave Herrera until the next hearing in July to provide the committee with the information about her sources lest she be cited in contempt.

The House probe stemmed from The Standard report, which alleged that P440 million were allocated to pay off the 292 lawmakers in the lower chamber—or P1.5 million promised to each lawmaker—for their vote for the BBL.

The report said the funds came from Wang Bo who allegedly paid the Bureau of Immigration (BI) P100 million to secure his release after the BI initially ordered his deportation, and another P400 million for the lawmakers.

Wang Bo allegedly embezzled $100 million and is suspected of opening casinos for transnational gambling.

The report alleged that bags of cash were unloaded at the rear entrance of the House of Representatives and taken to the office of Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

The report said the CCTV footage of the incident that supposedly happened from Monday to Wednesday last week had been overwritten.

Speaker Belmonte had denied the accusations, saying he would resign from the House if the BBL payola would be proven true. CB/RC