Vitaliano Aguirre II
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II described gambling financier Charlie “Atong” Ang’s claim that Aguirre was part of a plot to kill Ang as “complete fabrication.”
In a news conference on Thursday, Ang accused top officials, including Aguirre of plotting to kill him to corner the gambling trade in the country.
“I am not involved in illegal gambling,” said Aguirre.
“I am not a protector of illegal gambling. The same is true of his unfounded allegation against my brother who is never involved in illegal gambling,” he said in a statement.
Aguirre said Ang should file a case against the justice secretary in court but knew “he cannot because there is absolutely no truth to his accusation.”
“Ang is imagining things. This is clearly a demolition job,” said Aguirre.
Aguirre said Ang’s coming out was motivated by revenge for the government’s action against an online gambling firm, Fontana Leisure Park, which Aguirre said was owned by Ang and his partner, gambling tycoon Jack Lam.
“What is the reason for the allegations of Mr. Atong Ang against me?” said Aguirre.
“It is simple. I believe that his accusation is his way of getting back at me after I ordered the raid of Fontana Leisure Park that busted the billion-peso online illegal gambling operation that was being conducted thereat by his business partner and best friend Jack Lam,” Aguirre said.
Aguirre said records of the regulating agency Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. would show that Ang was Lam’s go-between in Lam’s efforts to settle unpaid taxes from Lam’s gambling operations.
“If there is anybody who could be accused of being engaged or being a protector of gambling, it is Atong Ang himself ,” Aguirre said.
He said “everybody knows” that Ang was the owner and had controlling interest of Meridien Vista Gaming Corp., a company that was behind jai alai operations based at the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority.