Sombero camp may file raps vs. Immigration execs until Friday

The camp of retired police official Wally Sombero on Thursday said they may file counter-charges on Friday against the two Bureau of Immigration officials accused of extorting P50 million from embattled gambling tycoon Jack Lam.

Sombero is the alleged gambling middleman for the Macau-based Lam, who had been looking for a "godfather" to protect his business in the Philippines. 

Atty. Ted Contacto, Sombero’s legal counsel told GMA News' Unang Balita: "Abangan nyo po hanggang Biyernes. May mga gagawin na mga aksyon. Siyempre as a lawyer, hindi ko pwedeng sabihin. May mga hinahandang mga gagawin.” 

Immigration Deputy Commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles earlier filed complaints for corruption of public officials and violation of anti-wiretapping law against Lam, Sombero, acting Immigration intelligence chief Charles Calima Jr. and Lam's two Chinese interpreters.

The two BI officials allegedly accepted P50 million in payoffs from Lam in exchange for the release of 600 out of 1,316 Chinese illegally working at the Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino in Clark, Pampanga.

They were caught on video accepting the money from Sombero.

Both denied the allegations against them, saying they were only doing an investigation on Lam's corrupt activities.

Asked about their camp’s defense against the two BI officials, Contacto said, “Number one, meron nang judicial affidavit [na nakahanda] for our clients. So, merong mga gagawin.”

“Sinasabi ko nga, 'yung defense, number one 'yung admission talaga na nakuha 'yung pera e.  We'll take it from there,” he added.

In an interview on Wednesday, Contacto questioned the timing of the announcement of Argosino and Robles that they were framed in an entrapment plan that backfired on them.

He asked why the Immigration officials admitted only last Tuesday (December 13) that the November 27 meeting with Sombero was part of case buildup on Lam's alleged corrupt activities.

The admission, he said, came three days after the alleged extortion came out in the news.

"Inamin nila na nakatanggap talaga sila pero ang question nga dun is bakit ngayon lang? So ang sabi ni Wally, 'Paano kung 'di na-expose ni Mon Tulfo? Magkakasulian ba ng pera?'" Contacto said.

He also blasted the two Immigration officials for claiming that what happened at a casino hotel in Parañaque City was supposed to be an entrapment operation.

"Ilang taon na kong abogado, ngayon lang ako nakakita ng entrapment na dalawang tao lang," Contacto said.

Sombero is currently under the protective custody of the National Bureau of Investigation. —Erwin Colcol/LBG, GMA News