Ex-BI execs Argosino, Robles indicted over P50-M bribery scandal

The Office of the Ombudsman has indicted former Immigration deputy commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles, as well as retired police officer Wenceslao Sombero Jr., in connection with the P50-million bribery scandal.

State prosecutors charged Argosino, Robles, and Sombero with the non-bailable offense of plunder and one count each of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, direct bribery, and violation of Presidential Decree No. 46.

Chinese casino mogul Jack Lam will also face one count of violation of PD 46, a decree punishing public officials for receiving gifts from private individuals.

Sacked Intelligence chief Charles Calima Jr., however, was dropped from the case after the Ombudsman granted his motion for reconsideration for lack of probable cause.

Investigations from Ombudsman revealed that Argosino and Robles have acquired ill-gotten wealth worth P50 million when they conspired with Sombero, then-president of Asian Gaming Service Provider Association Inc., in exchange for assistance in the release of 1,316 illegal Chinese workers at Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino in Clark, Pampanga owned by Lam.

The Ombudsman said Argosino and Robles showed their alleged "manifest partiality, evident bad faith, or gross inexcusable negligence" when they conspired with Sombero for the multi-million bribe.

The Department of Justice had earlier dropped the plunder charges against Argosino and Robles since the money recovered from them was P1,000 short of a plunder case.

Nonetheless, the Ombudsman had said Argosino and Robles are still liable under the Plunder Law, or Republic Act No. 7080, despite the missing P1,000.

The anti-graft body further said it “cannot excuse them from being indicted for plunder” since Robles himself admitted that “they  took possession of all five bags containing the P50 million.”

A total bail bond of P60,000 has been recommended in the cases of Argosino, Robles, and Sombero, while the recommended bail for Lamb amounts to P10,000.

While plunder is a non-bailable offense, arrest warrants will only be issued against Argosino, Robles, and Sombero once the Sandiganbayan finds probable cause to hold them for trial.  —KBK, GMA News