Sandiganbayan raffles off extort raps vs ex- Bureau of Immigration officials

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan raffled off yesterday the criminal charges filed against former Bureau of Immigration (BI) commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles for allegedly extorting P50 million from Macau-based gambling tycoon Jack Lam in 2016.

The anti-graft court’s Fourth Division will handle the plunder, graft and bribery cases against Argosino and Robles.

Sandiganbayan justices held a special raffle of the cases despite the half-day work schedule yesterday.

The anti-graft court usually raffles off cases every Friday.

The Fourth Division chaired by Associate Justice Alex Quiroz will handle the cases against Argosino and Robles.

Also named respondent was retired police officer Wenceslao “Wally” Sombero Jr.

The Fourth Division will also handle the complaint for violation of Presidential Decree 46 against the defendants. PD 46 prohibits public officials from receiving gifts, presents or money from a private person under any circumstance.

The cases stemmed from Argosino and Robles’ alleged receipt of P50 million in bribes from Lam in exchange for the release of 1,316 Chinese employees of Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino in Clark, Pampanga.

The Chinese were arrested by BI agents on Nov. 24, 2016 for overstaying and violation of immigration laws.

Based on the charge sheet filed by the Office of the Ombudsman last week, Argosino and Robles allegedly received the money in two tranches on Nov. 27, 2016: P20 million was supposedly received at around 2 a.m. and the balance at around 5:45 a.m.

Sombero, then president of Asian Gaming Service Providers Association Inc., allegedly facilitated the release of the money at the City of Dreams Hotel and Casino in Parañaque.

Plunder is a non-bailable offense if the evidence against the defendants is strong.

The Fourth Division is composed of Quiroz and Associate Justices Reynaldo Cruz and Bayani Jacinto.

It is also handling the charges of graft and usurpation of official function against former president Benigno Aquino III and former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima in connection with the 2015 Mamasapano incident.

The Fourth Division is also handling the plunder case against former Masbate congresswoman Rizalina Seachon-Lanete in connection with the multibillion-peso pork barrel fund scam.