MANILA - Wally Sombero, an alleged agent of gambling tycoon Jack Lam, admitted Tuesday that he informed Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II that he was leaving the country last month.

Sombero arrived in Manila from Canada after senators threatened to cite him in contempt for snubbing past hearings.

He is accused of giving P50-million to two Immigration officials last year in exchange for the release of over 1,000 illegal Chinese workers employed by Lam.

Upon his arrival, Sombero explained that he had written to Aguirre the day before he left the Philippines.

"Umalis ako nung [sic] January 17. Nagpaalam po ako at sumulat kay DOJ Secretary Aguirre nung January 16," he said.

He said he left "protective custody" on January 12 and had to be confined because he was about to be operated on by a certain Dr. Deneros.

"Nung 16, nagpaalam po ako kay Secretary, informing him that I’m going out January 17, the following day. Umalis po ako para sa medical intervention ko at nag-conduct ako ng mga seminars sa Taiwan, Singapore," he said.

"Then nag-proceed ako sa West Pacific for another series of briefings and presentations tungkol sa online gaming and service industry based in Asia. Yun po ang aking specialty," he added.

Senators grilled Immigration Chief Jaime Morente in the last hearing on why BI officials allowed Sombero to leave the country before he could appear at the Senate hearing.

Morente said he was informed by the chief of the Port Operations Division that a certain "Wenceslao Sombero" had left the Philippines hours after he had already boarded his flight. He said Sombero's passport did not have a "hit" because the lookout bulletin identified the ex-police official as Wally Sombero.

Sombero explained the bulletin only required him to inform the officials of his intent to leave, and not necessarily secure their permission.

"Ang nakalagay sa ILBO, di naman kailangang payagan ka. Magpaalam ka. Ipaalam mo, i-signify mo yung iyong plano ng pag-alis," he said.

He also said Aguirre did not need to respond to his letter.

"Di naman kailangang sagutin yun eh kasi impormasyon lang yun," he said.

Aguirre confirmed Tuesday afternoon that Sombero did write to him, but he maintained that he did not issue an allow departure order (ADO).

He explained, when Senator Leila de Lima left for Germany and the United States in December last year, she secured an ADO from his office. In Sombero's case, there was none.

"'Pag walang allow departure order, ang ibig sabihin nun dapat pigilan sya. Obligasyon ng immigration offers na pigilan siya at ipatupad ang LBO," he said.

"In ths case, Sombero, wala siyang ADO kaya dapat pinigilan sya ng immigration officers. Kung bakit di sya pinigilan ng immigration officer di na kasalan ng secretary of justice yan," he added.

Sombero is expected to attend Thursday's Senate hearing on the alleged bribery-extortion inside the BI.

He said he will be cautious in revealing what he knows, noting that there are cases filed against him.

"Depende, kasi may kaso na—meron na sa Ombudsman, may Parañaque na. I will just be choosing to answer some questions that will not incriminate me," he said. -with a report from Ina Reformina, ABS-CBN News