Lilac Center urges Sec. Bello to score Polaris Tools for pre-judging POLO Hong Kong online system probe

The Lilac Center for Public Interest, Inc., who had exposed the Hong Kong POLO online system deal that had prompted a DOLE investigation, yesterday accused the Hong Kong service provider of undermining the investigation and urged the DOLE to reprimand it.

“We urge Secretary Bello III to draw the attention of Polaris Tools Ltd. for its reckless public statements that tend to cast doubt on the DOLE investigating panel and its ongoing probe,” Nicon F. Fameronag, president of the Lilac Center said in a press release.

The Lilac Center’s call came after Jaime Deverall, Polaris Tools president, publicly cast doubts on the legitimacy of the DOLE probe, saying, in an interview with the South China Morning Post, that “There’s a combination of corrupt officials within the Department of Labour and Employment and employment agencies who have been profiteering off Filipino workers for decades . . .”

Adding to this reckless and baseless comments is a statement of the corporate secretary of Polaris Tools, David Bishop, to the Lilac Center, which claimed that Deverall had already met with the head of the DOLE investigating team, Undersecretary Claro Arellano, by saying “the meeting went very well” and that “we are very confident that things will be decided in our favor.”

Undersecretary Arellano has denied the claim, and said the investigation is not yet over.

“Mr. Bishop is trying to condition the minds of the Filipino people and the OFWs that Polaris Tools Ltd. will be vindicated in the investigation, thus undermining the work of the investigators. Why doesn’t he just wait?” Fameronag said.

Fameronag also bared that Polaris Tools, through Bishop, had warned the Lilac Center to back off the investigation or face jail time.

“I have received information directly from Mr. Bishop threatening the Lilac Center. He said “this is not going to end well for you if you get caught in the middle of it, and even if you avoid jail time, your reputation is going to be destroyed,” Fameronag said.

“Polaris Tools and its officials are the ones being investigated by the DOLE here, not the Lilac Center. To threaten us for bringing to light and under official scrutiny trickery and possible corruption in public and private places is a sign of panic, if not guilt. This only shows Polaris Tools’ ignorance of due process in the Philippines,” Fameronag said.

“The Lilac Center, as an advocacy organization, is not easily intimidated, particularly by “wolves in sheep’s clothing.” We are not cowed, and even thank this Hong Kong upstart for a service provider for increasing the stock of the Lilac Center among anti-corruption advocates,” said Fameronag, who is also the vice president of the citizens group Anti-Corruption Coalition.

Bishop’s statement came after Fameronag turned down Bishop’s request for a meeting between the Lilac Center and Mr. Deverall. Fameronag said that instead, Mr. Deverall should first meet with Usec. Arellano.

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