Gordon brings up ex-BI exec's past, quizzes about hazing conviction

Senator Richard Gordon questioned on Tuesday the appointment of former Bureau of Immigration deputy commissioner Al Argosino despite being convicted for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide for a hazing incident in 1991.

At the resumption of the probe on the alleged P50-million bribery scandal at the BI, Gordon raised Argosino's involvement in a hazing incident for which he was found guilty by a trial court on February 11, 1993.

"You have quite a reputation in the Lex Talionis fraternity, right? Is it not true that you were charged with hazing?" Gordon said, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

"That's correct your honor. Actually your honor this [conviction] happened in 1993, we pleaded guilty your honor," Argosino replied.

Argosino admitted pleading guilty for the charges over the death of a certain Raul Camaligan as co-accused.

"And you were convicted?," Gordon asked.

Argosino replied, "We decided, your honor, to plead guilty."

"Then why are you acting as a commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration? Were you pardoned?," Gordon asked.

Despite his conviction, Argosino said he was still able to serve at the BI "on probation."

"This does not involve reckless imprudence I believe at that time, because the case is reckless imprudence," Argosino said.

Argosino is fratmates with former BI commissioner Michael Robles, both of whom are accused of extorting P50 million from gaming tycoon Jack Lam in exchange for the release of more than one thousand illegal Chinese workers found in Clark, Pampanga last year. — MDM, GMA News