(Eagle News) – The plunder case filed against former immigration deputy commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles, and retired police officer Wenceslao “Wally” Sombero Jr. was re-raffled to the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division on Friday, April 6.
This was after the Sandiganbayan en banc approved on Thursday the inhibition from the case of Fourth Division chairperson Associate Justice Alex Quiroz.
Quiroz made the move after admitting one of the accused was an “acquaintance.”
The Sixth Division is chaired by Associate Justice Sarah Jane Fernandez, with Associate Justices Karl Miranda and Ma. Theresa Mendoza-Arcega as members.
Argosino and Robles have been accused of receiving P50 million from Chinese businessman Jack Lam in exchange for the release of 1316 of his workers who were arrested by the Bureau of Immigration in 2016 for allegedly violating immigration laws.
The money, the Ombudsman said, was coursed through Sombero.
Robles, Argosino and Sombero have also been charged with direct bribery, graft and violation of Presidential Decree No. 46, which prohibits government officials from receiving gifts from private individuals.
Lam also faces charges for violation of PD 46.
