Retired Senior Supt. Wenceslao “Wally” Sombero admitted yesterday that two Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials had extorted millions from Jack Lam’s camp to free the over 1, 300 foreign employees of a raided hotel resort and casino in Pampanga, a reliable source from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said.
Sombero, who earlier sought protective custody of the NBI for fear of his life, finally bared the details of what had transpired when he personally handed the money to the two BI officials identified as Atty. Al Argosino and Atty. Mike Robles.
In a 22-page affidavit, Sombero disclosed a meeting with Argosino and Robles in November to give them the money.
The source said the two high-ranking officials originally asked for P150 million until it was lowered to P100 million.
On November 27, Tuesday, Sombero met Argosino and Robles between 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. inside the Erwin Restaurant and Bar located on the second floor of City of Dreams where the first transaction was carried out.
There, Sombero gave Argosino and Robles P10 million each which was placed in two separate “take out” plastics.
An hour later, the R30 million, also placed in three take out plastics, was delivered.
The three, according to the source, transferred to Red Ginger Restaurant, also located on the same floor where the R30 million was given to the BI officials.
It was disclosed that the other half of the deal would be delivered in another transaction. They agreed to meet once more after three days.
The deal should be carried out in a suite room of the Crown Hotel of City of Dreams However, when Sombero, Argosino and Robles arrived at the place, the transaction was aborted when Lam learned that they could be duped and the alien employees would still not be released.
According to the source, all the transactions were documented through closed-circuit cameras installed in the City of Dreams.
It was also monitored by the intelligence offficials of the BI, the source said.
On Friday, during a closed-door meeting with Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, NBI Director Dabte Gierran, and NBI Spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin, Sombero asked for protective custody.
Meanwhile, Argosino and Robles both filed 30-day leave yesterday. (Betheena Kae Unite)