Argosino, Robles reiterate fears of being detained at Camp Bagong Diwa

Former Immigration deputy commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles have reiterated their fears of being detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City because the facility holds detainees arrested in the war on drugs of their fraternity brother, President Rodrigo Duterte.

Argosino and Robles, through their lawyers, submitted a certification from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology which states that 419 out of the 572 detainees at the Quezon City Jail Annex in Camp Bagong Diwa "are charged with various violations of Republic Act No. 9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous (Drugs) Act."

The certification, signed by Jail Chief Inspector Luis Franco Cleofe, was attached to the manifestation of Argosino and Robles received by the Sandiganbayan on Thursday.

"It is most respectfully prayed of his honorable court that the instant manifestation be noted and be considered in resolving the motion to transfer detention previously filed by accused Al C. Argosino and Michael B. Robles," the manifestation read.

The two former BI officials had moved for the Sandiganbayan to order their transfer to the Philippine National Police Custodial Center at Camp Crame.

In their joint urgent ex-parte motion, they said they wanted to transferred "due to the imminent and real threats to the safety and security of both accused."

Argosino, a former practicing lawyer for 20 years, and Robles, a former public prosecutor for 10 years, said their relations with Duterte at the Lex Talionis Fraternity, whose anti-illegal drug campaign Oplan Tokhang had led to the arrest of many illegal drug suspects detained at the jail facility.

"President Duterte's extensive campaign against illegal drugs a.k.a. tokhang led to the arrest of hundreds of persons allegedly engaged in drug trade and/or drug use and are detained in various regular detention facilities nationwide including Quezon City Jail Annex in Camp Bagong Diwa," they said.

Retired policeman Wally Sombero also filed the same urgent motion to transfer, citing the same security concerns as well as his various ailments.

All three respondents face the non-bailable offense of plunder in connection with the P50-million bribery scandal at the BI allegedly in exchange for the release of 1,316 illegal Chinese workers at the Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino of Chinese mogul Jack Lam.

Argosino, Robles, and Sombero also face one count each of graft, direct bribery, and violation of Presidential Decree No. 46 which punishes public officials for receiving gifts from private individuals.

Lam, meanwhile, faces one count of PD 46. He has yet to post a P10,000 bail in the charge. — MDM, GMA News