Chinese back in gov’t custody, denies bribery

A Chinese national, who was among those arrested two weeks ago at a casino illegally operating at Clark Freeport in Pampanga province and one of those who escaped, returned on Friday to the custody of the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

In a statement issued by the BI, Liang Kun, 24, debunked allegations that he and the others were intentionally allowed to escape by their guards in exchange for bribes.

With the aid of an interpreter, Kun told BI personnel that he left the holding facility at Fontana Convention Center because he just wanted to go outside, take a shower and rest in the villa where he lived while working at the casino.

Kun vehemently denied insinuations that he bribed his way to freedom or gave money to anyone to facilitate his escape.

He said he had no other companion in the villa except household workers. He added that he didn’t know the whereabouts of the 26 other escapees who were still at large.

“It appears from his testimony that the motive for his escape was simply to get away from the discomforts of the holding facility, which was overcrowded and had no sleeping provisions, and to return to the comforts of his own bedroom in the villa,” said BI spokesperson Antonette Mangrobang.

Kun was one of 57 Chinese nationals who escaped from the holding facility, but 31 of them have already returned to BI custody.

They were among the more than a thousand Chinese arrested by government operatives at Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino on Nov. 24 for working at an illegal online gaming business.