Gov’t blacklists gambling tycoon Jack Lam

Jack Lam. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Macau-based gaming tycoon Jack Lam has been blacklisted by the government for his alleged involvement in an illegal online casino in Clark Field, Pampanga, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said.

“Presently, he is blacklisted, which means he will not be allowed to return to the country,” Aguirre told reporters.

He said Lam’s Fontana Casino did not have permit from the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), contrary to a recent claim by his lawyer Raymond Fortun.

Aguirre added Lam that will be arrested once he returns to the country upon standing orders from President Duterte.

Lam is subject of a lookout bulletin order from the Department of Justice (DOJ). His investors’ visa has also been cancelled.

READ: BI ordered to cancel Lam’s investor visa, issue lookout order

Lam left the country for Hong Kong last Nov. 29, a few days before President Duterte ordered his warrantless arrest for continuing crimes of economic sabotage and harboring of illegal aliens, and after Aguirre revealed an attempt by Lam’s camp to bribe Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) chair Andrea Domingo.

Aguirre said he expects the criminal charges to be filed against Lam by the Bureau of Immigration or National Bureau of Investigation soon.

But Aguirre said there could still be a way out for Lam.

“He should pay taxes or liabilities and increase them to 10 percent instead of just one percent. He should also apply for new license with the Pagcor this time,” he said.

“If there will be an agreement on the amount to be paid, then he might be allowed to continue his investments here,” Aguirre hinted.

READ: Duterte sets terms for Jack Lam’s return

The DOJ chief earlier confirmed that Lam’s online casino in Fontana, which was temporarily shut down, had no valid permits from any government agency.

“CEZA has not authorized any of its operators to set up office or any of their operations in the Clark Freeport. It is very apparent that some foreigners are violating our laws,” he bared.

He said that CEZA has also not issued working visas (CWV) to any of the 1,316 Chinese nationals who were arrested inside Lam’s Fontana Leisure and Casino Park.

Some 600 of them have already posted bail amounting to P50,000 each for temporary liberty, while about 100 who have no travel documents would be deported back to China. JE/rga