Lookout bulletin issued vs BI execs, others linked to extort try
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) against immigration officials and several others implicated in a P50-million bribery scandal involving Macau-based online gaming tycoon Jack Lam.
Included in the ILBO are Deputy Commissioners Al C. Argosino and Michael B. Robles, Bureau of Immigration (BI) Intelligence Chief and a retired police General Charles T. Calima Jr., retired police General Wally Sombero and Lam’s interpreters Norman Ng and Alexander Yu.
In his memorandum, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II instructed all immigration officers to be on alert should they pass through the country’s airports and seaports.
The same memorandum also ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to obtain relevant information against the six individuals including contact numbers that can be called even outside office hours.
“All concerned are strongly warned against waiting until boarding time to inform concerned offices of any attempt to leave the country,” Aguirres said.
The memorandum is addressed to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente, OIC-Prosecutor General Jorge G. Catalan Jr., NBI Director Dante Gierran and Parañaque City Prosecutor Amerhassan C. Paudac.
A person subject of an ILBO can still be allowed to leave the country as long as there is a permission given by the Secretary of Justice.
Argosino and Robles were accused of receiving P48 million from Lam to facilitate the release of 600 of the 1,300 Chinese nationals arrested for working illegally at Lam’s Fontana Resort.
READ: BI execs say they were only probing corruption
The two denied the allegations, saying they are investigating the extent of corruption at the BI. Argosino and Robles said of the P50 million, P2 million was given to Sombero and P18 million was given to Calima while the remaining amount was turned over to the DOJ.
READ: 2 BI execs admit receiving P48M from Jack Lam
The two officials also filed a criminal case against Calima, Lam, Ng and Yu before the Parañaque prosecutors office. RAM/rga
