Drilon calls for independent inquiry into missing amount
(Eagle News) — The two former immigration officials who were accused of extorting money from Chinese businessman Jack Lam are now set to elude the non-bailable charge of plunder after it was found the P50 million retrieved as evidence against them was P1000 short.
The revelation that only P49,999,000 could be used as evidence against former Deputy Commissioners Michael Robles and Al Argosino was made by Senator Loren Legarda, quoting Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, during floor deliberations on the proposed 2018 budget of the Department of Justice early this week.
Of the P49,999,000, P29,999,000 was in DOJ custody; P18 million was with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group; and P2 million, with the Office of the Ombudsman.
Senator Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said the development would enable Argosino and Robles to elude the nonbailable charge of plunder, which has a threshold amount of P50,000,000.
“I call on the Office of the President or the Ombudsman to conduct an independent probe as to this very amateur way of obstructing justice…If you ask for a bribe, would you ask for P49,999,000 only?” Drilon said.
He noted that the DOJ was not the proper agency to conduct such an inquiry.
On Nov. 27, 2016, Argosino and Robles were caught on video accepting money from Wally Sombero reportedly on behalf of Lam.
Authorities said the money was in exchange for the release of Lam’s 1,316 undocumented Chinese workers who were apprehended by Bureau of Immigration operatives three days before.
The two admitted to accepting the money, but noted that this was only “evidence” they gathered as part of their probe on corruption in the BI.
Argosino and Robles, President Rodrigo Duterte’s fraternity brothers, resigned amid the controversy.
Prior to this, Aguirre, also their fraternity brother, had already recommended to the President that they be sacked.