(Eagle News) — The Office of the Ombudsman has indicted former immigration deputy commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles after they allegedly attempted to extort P50 million from businessman Jack Lam last year.
Apart from Argosino and Robles, Wally Sombero faces one count for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, direct bribery and Presidential Decree No. 46.
PD No. 46 sanctions government officials who receive gifts from private individuals.
Argosino and Robles also face a plunder case even if the Department of Justice junked these charges against them following the discovery that P1000 were missing from the P50 million used as evidence against them.
The crime of plunder has a threshold of P50 million.
The Ombudsman said that the discovery “cannot excuse them from being indicted for plunder,” noting that Robles had already admitted that “they took possession of all five bags containing the P50 million.”
Lam will also face one count for violation of PD 46, the Ombudsman said.
The anti-graft court has junked charges against former immigration intelligence chief Charles Calima for lack of probable cause.
The P50 million were allegedly in exchange for the release of 1,316 Chinese workers at Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino in Clark, Pampanga who were arrested by the Bureau of Immigration for several immigration violations.
The casino was owned by Lam.