Inquirer reporter testifies vs Argosino, Robles in P50-M bribery case

A reporter from the Philippine Daily Inquirer testified against former Immigration deputy commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles as well as retired cop Wally Sombero at the Sandiganbayan on Friday in their P50-million bribery case.

Prosecutors from the Ombudsman called to the witness stand Julie Aurelio at the Sixth Division to present her edited video recording of Argosino and Robles’ press conference on December 13, 2016.

Argosino and Robles had denied extorting P50 million from Chinese casino mogul Jack Lam, claiming they were only doing an investigation on Lam's corrupt activities.

Lam runs the Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino in Clark, Pampanga, where 1,316 Chinese nationals were caught engaged in illegal online gambling operations by BI operatives on November 24.

Argosino said he and Robles decided to take into custody the money and hold intact for safekeeping to be used as evidence against Lam.

They also tagged acting Immigration intelligence chief Charles Calima Jr., who allegedly connived with Sombero for the release of Chinese nationals, dismissal of deportation cases and to safeguard Lam's interest.

Aurelio was made to verify if she was the one who recorded the footage posted on video sharing site Youtube. It showed the bundles of money that supposedly amounts to P30 million since the P18 million was given to Calima and P2 million to Sombero.

Aurelio said the edited three-minute version came from her 30-minute video that was stored in her stolen cellphone. She likewise affirmed that her story on Argosino and Robles' press briefing was published on the Inquirer's website and broadsheet.

"It reasonably represents what I recall has happened," she said.

Division chairperson Associate Justice Sarah Jane Fernandez asked Aurelio on who titled the video as "2 BI execs admit receiving P48 million from Jack Lam but..." which was earlier manifested by the defense. 

"It was the title as captioned on Youtube, but I am not the one titled the video. We have an editor who decides," Aurelio said.

Sombero's counsel Laurence Arroyo objected the testimony of Aurelio, saying her statements are mere "hearsay" due to the fact that the video's subjects — Argosino and Robles — are not presented as witnesses in the case. He said the remarks of Argosino are also "extrajudicial statements." —JST, GMA News