NBI exec denies bribing Nueva Vizcaya bishop

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – The Cagayan Valley director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has denied bribing Bayombong Bishop Ramon Villena, saying the money he gave the influential Catholic cleric was a mere donation to the archdiocese. 

NDI regional director Constantino Joson said the statement of Villena identifying him as the one who allegedly provided him with a cash gift from the Spanish-owned gaming firm Meridien was probably taken out of context.

Villena, in a statement last week, also named controversial businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang as having given him a cash gift during his birthday last March, supposedly in an attempt to soften his stand against Meridien.

“There couldn’t have been any bribe made since (Meridien) is legal and there was not any favor asked of (Villena). Other donations (were) given to the Church during that event but the bishop returned the ones from Meridien through me,” said Joson, adding that “(Meridien) then decided to donate the money elsewhere.” 

“Actually, I believe the bishop had no malice when he made those statements against me but merely made a wrong choice of words. I don’t intend to file any damages against him since he is a family friend,” Joson added.

For his part, Ang, who admitted being a mere consultant for Meridien, said he “had never ever met (the bishop) nor had I ever given him money or favors either personally or through a representative.”

“Maybe the good bishop was mistaken about the money he received,” he said.

Villena said his anti-gambling stance has not changed despite the alleged bribery attempts.

“No one can bribe me (to soften my position on gambling),” said Villena, who heads the Regional Development Council.

Doubts on the legality of Meridien’s operations were raised here after the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) revoked its gaming franchise last April due to some violations in its contract.

Besides a court-issued temporary restraining order, Meridien, also a Security and Exchange Commission-recognized gaming firm, also obtained a preliminary injunction from the Aparri, Cagayan regional trial court against the CEZA order.

“We have the papers, and our case with CEZA is still under (TRO). Our operations are deemed to be legal until the court declares it otherwise,” said Meridien legal counsel Rolando Taganas.