Senators yesterday expressed disbelief over the claims of two former officials of the Bureau of Immigration that they refused but kept the P50-million bribe from Macau-based gaming tycoon Jack Lam through his middleman retired Senior Supt. Wally Sombero Jr. as evidence
During the Senate inquiry into the alleged BI bribery scandal, ex-BI Associate Commissioners lawyers Al Argosino and Michael Robles admitted that they brought home paper bags which contained millions of cash but insisted that they actually “refused” the bribe.
Asked by Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairperson Sen. Richard J. Gordon if Argosino kept the paper bags, the latter said that he only kept them as evidence.
Before the alleged bribe took place, Argosino recalled how he and Robles met Sombrero in the City of Dreams Manila last November 26 after the retired cop requested to discuss Lam’s case.
Lam owns an online casino called Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino in Clark, Pampanga which employs Chinese nationals illegally working in the country. The workers were arrested last November 24.
Argosino said he noticed Sombrero had two paper bags with him and asked what they were for with an inkling it was a bribe. He and Robles later decided to keep the paper bags as part of their efforts to investigate Lam.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II, who was present in the hearing, said that he was also approached by Sombrero who tried to “impress him” and show him that Lam could give him “whatever he wanted.”
Lam, through Sombrero, requested Aguirre to allow the release of the 1,316 Chinese workers and vowed to pay back accountabilities with the government and secure a license from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. Aguirre, however, rejected their intentions.
Sen. Francis “Kiko” N. Pangilinan said that it was “hard to believe” that they just waited for Sombrero to arrive instead of just leaving the paper bags in the restaurant if they truly refused the bribe.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros questioned why Argosino and Robles decided to bring the paper bags to their homes instead of in the BI headquarters. (PNA)