Aguirre: 600 Chinese working at Jack Lam's Fontana resort freed on bail

Nearly half of the 1,316 Chinese nationals allegedly working for Jack Lam's illegal online gambling operations in Clark, Pampanga have been released on bail, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Wednesday.

Aguirre told GMA News Online that the BI Board of Commissioners had allowed the 600 Chinese nationals to post a P56,000 bail each while the deportation charges against them are being heard.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente and Deputy Commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles signed the release order, which came after the November 27 incident where money exchanged hands at a casino hotel in Parañaque City supposedly for the release of the Chinese nationals.

"The release order was issued after the P50 million was given," Aguirre said.

Aguirre, however, declined to surmise on the circumstances behind the release, saying it was premature for him to make a judgment.

For her part, Immigration spokesperson Ma. Antonette Mangrobang said the BI Board of Commissioners found that there are no indications the said Chinese workers are a threat to public safety.

Their temporary liberty is also reportedly consistent with the BI’s objective of decongesting the temporary detention facility at Fontana.

The BI has been at the center of controversy over alleged corruption committed by Argosino and Robles, who were accused of having extorted P50 million from Lam.

Argosino and Robles, who are now in hiding due to alleged fears for their safety, had claimed that they took the money from Lam's associate, retired police official Wally Sombero, as part of their continuing probe on Lam's corrupt activities, but they were allegedly framed up.

Argosino and Robles were fired by President Rodrigo Duterte last week.

Aguirre said the 600 Chinese nationals were no longer in Fontana.

"They are out of Fontana but they are still in the country," he said.

The BI earlier said those arrested at Lam's Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino on November 24 were allegedly employed to operate online gambling operations that catered mostly to high rollers from mainland China.

The Chinese nationals are facing charges for overstaying, working in violation of the limitations and conditions of their visa, and engaging in an unlicensed online gaming business.

The arrested Chinese are undergoing deportation proceedings presided by the BI Board of Commissioners. —ALG/KG, GMA News