Ex-BI exec Robles escapes contempt citation from Senate panel 

A Senate panel on Thursday decided against citing former Immigration Deputy Commission Michael Robles in contempt after he apologized for his behavior during the final hearing of the chamber's inquiry into the P50-million bribery controversy involving gaming tycoon Jack Lam. 

Robles had earned the ire of Blue Ribbon committee chairman Senator Richard Gordon over his reluctance to answer questions about the involvement of former BI intelligence chief Charles Calima Jr. in the scandal.

The former BI official also said he felt humiliated with Gordon's manner of questioning. 

Before the hearing ended, Robles apologized to the committee and said he had "wrong choice of words." 

"Hindi po iyon ang intensyon kong sabihin. May mga bagay lang po na hindi namin maipaliwanag or ma-express agad. I was not saying that you humiliated us. I’m sorry for that," he said.

Gordon, in response, reminded Robles of a resource person's responsibility to "tell the whole truth." 

"You better respect the Senate when you come here," the senator said. — RSJ, GMA News