Video of 2 former BI execs taking bribe shown at Senate

Former Bureau of Immigration commissioners Michael Robles and Al Argosino. TETCH TORRES TUPAS/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

The camera footage of two former immigration officers allegedly receiving P50-million bribe from an aide of gambling mogul Jack Lam at a casino mall in Parañaque City last November 27 was presented during a Senate hearing on Tuesday.

Former Bureau of Immigration Associate Commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles confirmed that they were the ones on the video with Lam’s representative, retired Police Senior Superintendent Wally Sombero Jr.

The video showed Sombero, Robles’ brother, and another man, carrying paper bags supposedly containing millions of pesos.

READ: 2 immigration execs caught on video with 5 cash bundles

The two former officials met with Sombero supposedly to discuss the arrest of illegal Chinese workers of Lam at Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino in Clark, Pampanga.

In his sworn statement he read before the committee, Robles narrated their meeting with Sombero, starting from the time he arrived at a restaurant of City of Dreams at around 9:15 p.m. of November 26 where he first met with Argosino.

READ: Senate committee resumes probe on BI bribery scandal

He said he and Argosino transferred to Erwin’s Gastro Restaurant, still inside the City of Dreams, while waiting for Sombero, who arrived at 2 a.m. carrying two bags.

But because the Gastro restaurant was closing already, Robles said they transferred to Ginger Restaurant around 3:20 a.m.

“That after transferring too to Ginger Restarant, Mr. Sombero decided to leave the place and asked us to wait for him while leaving two paper bags near the table,” he said.

Robles said it was Argosino, who told him that the bags contained money.

“That I was surprised and I asked him if he asked for the money and what is the purpose of the money. Atty. Argosino told me that he does not know the purpose of the money and that he did not ask for it,” he said.

Robles said Argosino also told him that he was conducting an investigation against Lam for alleged violation of the immigration laws and anti-human trafficking and that he would use the money as evidence against the businessman.

At 5:45 am., Robles said Sombero returned to the restaurant. And when they were about to leave the place, Robles said, Sombero and his assistant, carrying the bags, followed them.

Upon Argosino’s request, Robles said, they met with Sombero again on November 28 at the Diamond Hotel in Manila, and on November 30, at the Crown Hotel.

Robles said he was surprised when former Immigration Intelligence chief Charles Calima later told him that the latter was in close coordination with Sombero and that they had “evidence” of what had transpired in the City of Dreams.

“It strengthened my suspicion that we were framed up because an acting Intel Chief of BI, instead of warning us about Mr. Sombero, had connived with the latter in plotting a frame up operation on us despite the fact that we have no history of wrongdoing and that there was no complaint against us by anyone,” he said.

“That Gen. Calima even told me: ‘Kayo kasi hindi ninyo kami isinama,’ and burst into laughter about it,” Robles added. IDL/rga